E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders sickens dozens, kills one
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) and several state health agencies report investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
To date, 49 people from 10 states have gotten sick from the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. Most sick people are from Colorado (26) or Nebraska (9). Wyoming and Utah reported four cases each, while Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon and Wisconsin report one case a piece.
10 people have been hospitalized. One older person in Colorado has died. Additionally, one child is hospitalized with complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.
Everyone interviewed has reported eating at McDonald’s before their illness started, and most specifically mentioned eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger.
The specific ingredient linked to illness has not yet been identified, but investigators are focused on two ingredients in particular: fresh, slivered onions, and fresh beef patties.
McDonald’s reported to CDC that they proactively removed the slivered onions and beef patties used for the Quarter Pounder hamburgers from stores in the affected states while the investigation continues. Quarter Pounders hamburgers in some states may be temporarily unavailable.
Investigators are working to determine if the slivered onions or beef patties in Quarter Pounder burgers are the specific source of this outbreak.
Preliminary traceback and distribution information reviewed by FDA shows that slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders are a likely source of contamination.
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The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli. In addition, 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.
E. coli Symptoms:
Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.