The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
At least one person has died and 49 people fallen ill, including 10 that have been hospitalized across 10 states as of Wednesday, Oct. 23, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
While a specific ingredient has not been confirmed as the source of the outbreak, “most sick people report eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burger,” the FDA said. “Investigators are working to determine if the slivered onions or beef patties on Quarter Pounder burgers are the likely source of contamination.”
McDonald’s said it has stopped using Quarter Pounder patties and slivered onions in several states.
Are McDonald’s restaurants in Florida affected by the E. coli outbreak?
No. Restaurants in Florida have not been affected by the outbreak.
There are 878 McDonald’s restaurants in Florida, according to Locations Cloud, an enterprise of data and insights.
What states have been affected by the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak?
If you’ve recently traveled outside of Florida, or have friends and family elsewhere, states affected by the outbreak include:
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Colorado
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Kansas
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Utah
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Wyoming
Portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma have temporarily stopped using Quarter Pounder slivered onions and beef patties, the FDA said.
“This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported,” the Centers for Disease Control said. “This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.”
E. coli illness map: Where have people gotten sick from McDonald’s Quarter Pounders?
How many people have gotten sick or died from the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak?
As of Oct. 22, 49 people have been infected in 10 states, the CDC said, with illnesses ranging from Sept. 27 through Oct. 11.
One person in Colorado has died and 10 people have been hospitalized. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure, the CDC said.
More illnesses have been reported in Colorado, 26, followed by 9 in Nebraska, according to the CDC.
“Recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”
What’s the source of the E. coli, the burger or the onions?
“Preliminary traceback and distribution information reviewed by FDA shows that slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders are a likely source of contamination,” the FDA said.
“FDA is working quickly to confirm that these onions are a source of this outbreak and to determine if these onions were served or sold at other businesses. Diced onions used at McDonald’s are not implicated in this outbreak.”
“FSIS is conducting traceback on hamburger patties served at McDonald’s in affected states to determine if ground beef is a source of illness. McDonald’s has also temporarily stopped selling Quarter Pounder beef patties in affected states, while the investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the outbreak.”
How has McDonald’s responded to the E. coli outbreak?
“We are taking swift and decisive action following an E. Coli outbreak in certain states,” Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America chief supply chain officer, announced on the company’s website.
“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers. As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.
“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.
“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do,” Piña said.
How many McDonald’s restaurants are there in the world and US?
McDonald’s presently has 36,500 locations in over 100 countries, according to LocationsCloud.
In the U.S., there are 13,562 restaurants. States with the most include:
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California: 1,222
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Texas: 1,171
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Florida: 878
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Illinois: 640
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Ohio: 613
What is E. coli?
Escherichia coli, usually abbreviated as E. coli, are bacteria that normally live in the intestines of people and animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract, some can cause illness.
The types of E. coli that can cause diarrhea can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or persons.
What are symptoms of E. coli infections?
The time between ingesting the bacteria and feeling any symptoms is usually three to four days after exposure, but may be as short as one day or as long as 10 days, the CDC said.
Symptoms often begin slowly with mild belly pain or non-bloody diarrhea that worsens over several days.
The symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections vary for each person but often include:
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Severe stomach cramps
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Diarrhea that is often bloody
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Vomiting
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If there is fever, it usually is not very high, less than 101 degrees.
Most people get better within five to seven days, but some infections can be severe or life-threatening, the CDC said.
Can you prevent E. coli infections?
Here are suggestions from the CDC to prevent E. coli infections at home:
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Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom or changing diapers and before preparing or eating food.
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Wash your hands after contact with animals or their environments (at farms, petting zoos, fairs, even your own backyard).
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Cook meats thoroughly. Ground beef and meat that has been needle-tenderized should be cooked to a temperature of at least 160 degrees and use a thermometer to make sure. Color is not a reliable indicator of “doneness.”
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Avoid raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products, and unpasteurized juices.
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Avoid swallowing water when swimming or playing in lakes, ponds, streams, swimming pools, and backyard “kiddie” pools.
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Prevent cross-contamination in food preparation areas by thoroughly washing hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils after they touch raw meat.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: McDonald’s pulls Quarter Pounder several states e. coli outbreak
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