Chicago – October 23, 2024
An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s quarter pounder hamburgers has sickened dozens of people in the United States, including one fatally, health officials have said.
At least 49 people have fallen ill in 10 states, with most cases concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.
Most of the people who fell ill reported eating the quarter pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before getting sick, the CDC said.
Health authorities have yet to determine the specific ingredient that may have caused the outbreak.
“McDonald’s is collaborating with investigation partners to determine what food ingredient in Quarter Pounders is making people sick,” the CDC said in a statement.
“McDonald’s stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states while the investigation is ongoing to identify the ingredient causing illness.”
McDonald’s shares plunged about 9 percent in after-hours trading.
McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said that most states and most menu items were not affected.
“Food safety is so important to me and everyone at McDonald’s,” Erlinger said in a video statement.
