McDonald’s has taken swift action to remove its popular Quarter Pounder burgers from the menu at 20% of its U.S. outlets following a deadly E. Coli outbreak linked to the product. The outbreak, which has so far affected 10 states, has resulted in one death and left dozens of others ill. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the infections have been traced back to the Quarter Pounder burgers served at McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and several areas in Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
The fast-food giant responded by pulling the Quarter Pounder from affected locations in these states to contain the spread of infections. Joe Erlinger, McDonald’s U.S. chief, appeared on NBC’s Today show, where he emphasized the company’s commitment to consumer safety and confidence. “Given the recent events of the past 24 hours, our priority is to reinforce the confidence of American consumers,” he said. Joe Erlinger noted that the unidentified contaminated product likely passed through the company’s supply chain before it could be intercepted.
The CDC has expressed concerns that more cases of E. Coli infections could arise as the investigation continues. A CDC spokesperson, Tom Skinner, stated that McDonald’s had moved quickly to prevent further cases, but acknowledged the difficulty in determining the full scope of the contamination.
Preliminary findings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggest that the source of the contamination may be fresh slivered onions, which are served raw in the Quarter Pounder burgers. While McDonald’s also serves these onions in one of its breakfast sandwiches, that item is not available at the affected locations. Other menu items, such as the Big Mac, use cooked, diced onions, which are not believed to be linked to the outbreak. McDonald’s is now searching for a new regional supplier for fresh onions.
The fast-food chain has been collaborating closely with federal food safety regulators since last week, when the potential outbreak was first flagged. McDonald’s noted that the popularity of the Quarter Pounder, which is sold in over 14,000 outlets across the U.S. and served to over one million customers every two weeks, has complicated efforts to pinpoint the exact source of the contamination. Despite the situation, McDonald’s has not closed any of its restaurants, as investigations have not identified issues with its food preparation practices.
