This is a fast-moving outbreak investigation. Most sick people are reporting eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers from McDonald’s and investigators are working quickly to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated. McDonald’s has pulled ingredients for these burgers, and they won’t be available for sale in some states.
CDC, FDA, USDA FSIS, and public health officials in multiple states are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Most people in this outbreak are reporting eating the Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before becoming sick. It is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated.
Contaminated Food
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers are making people sick, with most illnesses in Colorado and Nebraska.
Quarter Pounder hamburgers will not be available temporarily in some states.
Investigators are working to confirm which ingredient in these hamburgers is making people sick and if it went to other restaurants or stores.
McDonald’s reported to CDC that it has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states. McDonald’s is proactively making these changes while investigators work to confirm the contaminated ingredient. Quarter pound beef patties are only used on Quarter Pounders. Fresh slivered onions are primarily used on Quarter Pounder hamburgers and not other menu items.
What you should do
McDonald’s has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states to protect their customers while a source of illness is confirmed.
Call your healthcare provider if you ate a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburger and have severe E. coli symptoms:
Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F;
Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving;
Bloody diarrhea;
So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down.
Signs of dehydration, such as:
Not peeing much;
Dry mouth and throat;
Feeling dizzy when standing up.
Symptoms of E. coli
Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
Key Points:
49 people from 10 states have gotten sick from the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. Most sick people are from Colorado (27) or Nebraska (9).
10 people have been hospitalized. One older person in Colorado has died. Additionally, one child is hospitalized with complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.
Everyone interviewed has reported eating at McDonald’s before their illness started, and most specifically mentioned eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger.
