McDonald’s takes Quarter Pounder off the menu at 1 in 5 restaurants due to E. coli outbreak
McDonald’s has stopped selling Quarter Pounder hamburgers at about one-fifth of its U.S. restaurants as federal health officials investigate an outbreak of E. coli that has sickened nearly 50 people in 10 states, killing one.
The fast-food chain sold about 1 million Quarter Pounders in the timeframe that the illnesses occurred, a McDonald’s spokesperson said Wednesday. The company said it believes more people would have been sickened if the contamination stemmed from the patties themselves, adding that onions used on the burgers may be the culprit.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday linked McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers to the outbreak, which sickened people in Colorado, Nebraska, and other Mountain and Western states. Most of those who fell ill reported eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald’s, and investigators are working to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated, according to the CDC.
Medical expert discusses food contamination and recalls
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People are advised to call their health care provider if they ate a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and have severe E. coli symptoms, as follows:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
– Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
– Bloody diarrhea - So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as:
– Reduced urination
– Dry mouth and throat
– Feeling dizzy when standing up
The concerns about one of McDonald’s most popular menu items comes as fast-food chains try to attract consumers still smarting from high food prices. The company this summer launched a $5 value meal in a bid to draw lower-income customers.
McDonald’s shares were down more than 5% shortly before the close of trading on Wednesday.
The outbreak is not the first to be linked to the Golden Arches. In 2018, an outbreak of intestinal illness linked to salads from McDonald’s sickened more than 500 people in more than a dozen states.
contributed to this report.
Kate Gibson
Source: cbsnews.com