Fresh, slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders and other menu items from McDonald’s are the likely source of the E. coli outbreak, the October 30th CDC update reveals.
„More illnesses have been reported, but they are from before McDonald’s and Taylor Farms took action to remove onions from food service locations. Due to the product actions taken by both companies, CDC believes the risk to the public is very low,” a special report shows.
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. McDonald’s stopped using slivered onions on the Quarter Pounder hamburger in some states to try to prevent more people from getting sick.
Epidemiologic and traceback information show that fresh, slivered onions are the likely source of illness in this outbreak. Taylor Farms, the supplier of slivered onions to the affected McDonald’s locations also recalled onions. Food service businesses were contacted directly by Taylor Farms. The likelihood of contaminated onions still being available for sale is low.
Slivered onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers likely made people sick. Most sick people in this outbreak reported eating a McDonald’s menu item containing fresh, slivered onions before they got sick. McDonald’s pulled fresh, slivered onions and fresh quarter pound beef patties while a specific food ingredient was being determined as the source of illness. That likely source is now believed to be onions.
Taylor Farms Recalled Yellow Onions
Food service operators were contacted directly and told not to sell or serve recalled onions. The onions were only distributed to food service businesses, such as restaurants. It is not likely that recalled onions went to grocery stores or directly to consumers.
