McDonald’s has removed Quarter Pounder burgers from 20% of its US outlets after an E. coli outbreak linked to the burgers was reported in 10 states. The outbreak has resulted in one death and dozens falling ill, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The fast-food chain halted sales of the burger in areas across Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and several other states. McDonald’s US chief, Joe Erlinger, said on NBC’s Today show that the company acted swiftly to pull the burgers in affected regions, aiming to restore consumer confidence.
Preliminary investigations suggest that raw onions served in the Quarter Pounders were the likely source of contamination. The CDC expects more E. coli cases to emerge, with its spokesperson, Tom Skinner, praising McDonald’s rapid response.
Despite the outbreak, McDonald’s did not close any restaurants, stating that federal investigations did not point to flaws in its food preparation practices. The company is now searching for a new regional supplier for fresh onions.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing its probe into the incident. McDonald’s said it is closely collaborating with regulators to resolve the issue, with Erlinger emphasizing the company’s commitment to food safety.
The company serves over one million Quarter Pounder burgers biweekly across its 14,000 US outlets, amplifying the complexity of identifying the source of contamination.