Breaking: McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Makes Safe Return After E. coli Investigation Clears Beef
In a significant development for fast-food lovers across America, McDonald’s announced Sunday that its popular Quarter Pounder will return to all restaurants nationwide after extensive testing ruled out beef patties as the source of a recent E. coli outbreak that affected multiple states.
The outbreak, which caused 75 illnesses across 13 states and resulted in one death in Colorado, had prompted McDonald’s to remove Quarter Pounders from about one-fifth of its locations. The decision to resume sales comes after the Colorado Department of Agriculture confirmed that beef patties tested negative for E. coli contamination.
“We tested multiple lots of fresh and frozen beef patties from various Colorado McDonald’s locations linked to the outbreak investigation,” state agriculture officials reported. “All samples came back negative for E. coli.”
Federal investigators now point to slivered onions as the likely culprit. The onions came from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility, which supplied about 900 McDonald’s restaurants across several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.
The outbreak’s impact has been severe.
- 22 people needed hospital care.
- Two patients developed serious kidney problems.
- Cases spread across 13 states, with Colorado hit hardest (26 cases).
- Illness reports came in between September 27 and October 11.
Taking quick action, McDonald’s has permanently cut ties with the Colorado Springs facility and will bring back Quarter Pounders without slivered onions at affected locations. “We’ve removed all potentially contaminated products from our supply chain,” assured Cesar Piña, McDonald’s chief supply chain officer.
Joe Erlinger, McDonald’s US President, addressed customers directly in a video message: “I know our relationship is built on trust. You trust us to serve safe food every time. On behalf of McDonald’s, I want you to hear from me: we are sorry.”
The ripple effects of this outbreak have spread beyond McDonald’s golden arches. Other major fast-food chains, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King, have also pulled onions from some locations as a safety measure.
Health officials warn that E. coli poisoning can strike quickly, usually within two days of eating contaminated food. Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- Dehydration signs (reduced urination, increased thirst, dizziness)
The CDC notes that E. coli O157:H7, the strain involved in this outbreak, is particularly dangerous. It causes roughly 74,000 infections in the US yearly, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths.
As McDonald’s works to restore customer confidence, several lawsuits have been filed against the company. The FDA and CDC continue their investigation to confirm if onions are indeed the outbreak’s source.
For now, McDonald’s fans can expect to see their beloved Quarter Pounders back on menus nationwide within the week—minus the slivered onions at affected locations. This marks a crucial step in the company’s efforts to move past this food safety crisis while maintaining transparency with its customers.