McDonald's reintroduces Quarter Pounder after E. coli scare

In the United States, McDonald's has reinstated its Quarter Pounder on the menu at several locations after an investigation eliminated beef patties as the source of a recent E. coli outbreak that sickened at least 75 individuals and resulted in one fatality. The outbreak, which originated from slivered onions supplied by Taylor Farms from a facility in Colorado, prompted the fast-food chain to remove the Quarter Pounder from menus in affected regions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to investigate, focusing on the onions as the primary contamination source. McDonald's has confirmed it will no longer source onions from the Colorado facility indefinitely. Local health officials found that all beef patty samples tested negative for E. coli, reinforcing the decision to resume sales of the Quarter Pounder without the slivered onions. Health authorities reported that individuals in 13 states were affected, with the most cases reported in Colorado and Montana. The outbreak involved the E. coli 0157:H7 strain, which can lead to severe illness and symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and vomiting. As a precaution, Taylor Farms recalled the yellow onions distributed to various customers, collaborating with health agencies to ensure safety. The company is working to investigate and address the contamination issues that led to the outbreak.