McDonald's cleared after deadly E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders
- 104 people in 14 states became ill due to an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers.
- The outbreak was traced to contaminated slivered onions from Taylor Farms, leading to a recall and removal of the product from menus.
- The CDC declared the outbreak over and stated that McDonald's has implemented necessary actions to prevent future incidents.
In the United States, an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers has been officially declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of December 4, 2024. The outbreak resulted in 104 reported illnesses, 34 hospitalizations, and one confirmed death related to contaminated slivered onions. The investigation, which began in late October, identified slivered onions from Taylor Farms as the likely source of the contamination, leading to immediate actions taken by McDonald's including pulling the affected items from their menu and halting the distribution of the onions. The FDA reported that the investigation was initiated after the first E. coli case was detected on September 27. With the number of affected states increasing, McDonald's quickly removed its Quarter Pounder product from menus in several locations. Health officials conducted interviews with the sickened individuals, concluding that a significant proportion had consumed menu items containing slivered onions, further highlighting the potential risk. As of October 21, 2024, there were no new cases reported, spurring both the CDC and FDA to close their investigations, which underscored that McDonald’s had successfully contained the outbreak. The fast-food chain's leaders expressed gratitude towards public health officials for their swift action and communicated their commitment to enhancing food safety measures moving forward. Furthermore, McDonald's announced plans to invest over $100 million to regain customer trust following the incident, indicating the significant reputational and financial consequences of the outbreak. In conclusion, this incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of food safety and the rapid response required in addressing public health threats. McDonald's actions, driven by an ethical obligation to safeguard consumer health, ensured a minimal risk of further contamination, demonstrating the chain's commitment to public safety even amidst a crisis. They have since resumed normal operations with a new supply chain for the slivered onions, reinstating the Quarter Pounder product nationwide and striving to rebuild customer confidence.