The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are jointly investigating a multistate E. coli outbreak that has been linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Experts have not yet been able to determine the source of the bacterial contamination, although early findings suggest it’s the slivered onions rather than the beef patties.
So far, 49 people have been sickened, 10 have been hospitalized, and one older person has died, according to the CDC. Most recalled eating a Quarter Pounder before getting sick. The majority of illnesses have been identified in Colorado and Nebraska, but they’ve also been reported in Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
In a statement, McDonald’s said it was taking “swift and decisive action” following the outbreak. “All local restaurants have been instructed to remove [slivered onions] from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area,” the company said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are also temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.”
The FDA said diced onions and other types of beef patties have not been implicated in this outbreak, and McDonald’s said its other burgers are still on the menu.
Symptoms of E. Coli and When to Seek Treatment
Most people get sick within a few days of ingesting foods contaminated with E. coli, and can experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), and vomiting.
Most people get better without treatment in five to seven days, but some experience permanent kidney damage or even death. The very young, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at highest risk.
You should seek immediate medical treatment if you experience:
- Diarrhea and fever higher than 102 degrees F
- Diarrhea for more than three days that’s not improving
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting so much that you can’t keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, not peeing as often, or feeling dizzy when standing up
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