MCDONALD’S is still investigating the root cause of the horrific E. coli outbreak that left at least one person dead and dozens sick.
The fast-food giant abruptly yanked its popular Quarter Pounders from one-fifth of US stores on Tuesday and is now dealing with the fallout.
McDonald’s bosses believe the infection came from an onion supplier, but the CEO is still looking at whether beef was contaminated, Bloomberg reported.
At least 50 people fell ill after consuming the burgers, and 10 of those were hospitalized for treatment.
E. coli infection causes deadly gastrointestinal effects, including diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever.
Those with severe cases can develop urinary tract infections, meningitis, or even sepsis, which can prove fatal.
The Quarter Pounder infections were mainly found in Colorado, and about nine cases have been identified in neighboring Nebraska.
The first horror case was reported on September 27.
McDonald’s yanked the menu item from restaurants in a dozen states, and executives are desperately trying to convince consumers that the rest of the menu is safe.
Regular hamburgers and cheeseburgers are still being offered, along with all chicken and potato products, CEO Chris Kempczinski confirmed.
E. coli spreads through raw vegetables and uncooked beef, so meat is normally safe from the bacteria.
However, Kempczinski said they’re still scrutinizing their beef products, which come from multiple suppliers.
McDonald’s stock plummeted following the E. coli death and completely erased the company’s 6% year-to-date gain.
Anyone living in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, or Wyoming is advised to monitor their condition if they ate a Quarter Pounder recently.
“If you have severe symptoms of E. coli infection after eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s, seek health care and tell your provider about what you ate,” a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) alert reads.
According to the CDC, it’s unlikely they will ever know the total number of consumers affected, as it can take a month to link someone to the outbreak.
In response to the outbreak, Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald’s USA, made media appearances to “restore confidence” with customers.
“We are very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics,” he told the Today show.
“We took swift action yesterday to remove the Quarter Pounder from our menu.
“That was swift and decisive action by us.
“We’re confident that, that we’ll see our way through this and we’ll restore confidence for the American consumer to come to McDonald’s.”
Anyone with questions about the outbreak is advised to call their state’s health department.
McDonald's E. coli outbreak
McDonald's North America Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña issued the following statement in response to the E. coli outbreak that has killed one and left 49 sick.
“Across the McDonald’s System, serving customers safely in every single restaurant, each and every day, is our top priority and something we’ll never compromise on.
“It is why we are taking swift and decisive action following an E. Coli outbreak in certain states. The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers. As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are also temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do. Impacted restaurants are receiving a stock recovery notice today and should reach out to their field supply chain manager or distribution center with any questions.
“We are working in close partnership with our suppliers to replenish supply for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks (timing will vary by local market). In the meantime, all other menu items, including other beef products (including the Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger) are unaffected and available. We will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are committed to providing timely updates as we restore our full menu.
