Los Angeles, Oct 28 — McDonald’s announced on Sunday that the popular Quarter Pounder burger will return to its menu at hundreds of locations following confirmation that beef patties were not linked to the recent E. coli outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now believes that slivered onions from a single supplier are the likely source of contamination, which has resulted in one death and at least 75 reported illnesses across 13 states.
McDonald’s will reintroduce the Quarter Pounder without slivered onions in affected restaurants next week. The outbreak, linked to uncooked onions, has expanded to 75 people sickened in multiple states, with 22 hospitalizations, and one death reported in Colorado, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The implicated onions were supplied by Taylor Farms, a California-based produce company. McDonald’s has since pulled all slivered onions sourced from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility from its supply chain and has indefinitely ceased sourcing from this location. Testing conducted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture confirmed that beef patties were not the source, as multiple samples from associated locations tested negative for E. coli.
In response, McDonald’s temporarily removed the Quarter Pounder from menus in regions where these onions were distributed. Approximately 900 McDonald’s restaurants, including some in major transportation hubs, were affected. Several other fast-food chains have also pulled onions from select locations as a precautionary measure.
The E. coli strain involved, 0157
, produces a toxin that can cause severe illness. Symptoms, which include fever, vomiting, diarrhea (often bloody), and dehydration, typically appear within one to two days of eating contaminated food. Health officials advise heightened caution for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, as they are most susceptible to complications.
The CDC reports that illnesses occurred between September 27 and October 11, with many cases linked to travelers who visited McDonald’s restaurants during their trips.
