Major fast food chains pull onions as McDonald’s E. Coli crisis spreads.
In a sweeping response to a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwiches, major fast-food chains across the United States are removing fresh onions from their menus. The outbreak has already claimed one life and sickened 49 people across 10 states.
Taylor Farms, a California-based supplier, has emerged at the center of this food safety crisis. The company, which supplies onions to McDonald’s locations in the affected regions, issued a recall Wednesday for several yellow onion products due to potential contamination.
Restaurant giants take immediate action:
- Burger King (owned by Restaurant Brands International)
- KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut (owned by Yum Brands)
- As a safety measure, Illegal Pete’s, a Mexican chain based in Colorado, has removed fresh onions from their menus.
The outbreak has hit the Mountain West particularly hard, with Colorado and Nebraska reporting the highest number of cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified the strain as E. coli O157:H7, a particularly dangerous variant that causes over 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths annually in the United States.
“This is a serious outbreak with concerning characteristics,” says Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota. The strain can cause a life-threatening condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which damages kidney blood vessels.
McDonald’s has responded by removing Quarter Pounders from about 20% of its U.S. locations. The fast-food giant is focusing its removal efforts in twelve states: Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Health officials warn that symptoms of E. coli poisoning typically appear within 1-2 days of eating contaminated food. Warning signs include:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
Those most at risk include:
- Young children
- Elderly individuals
- Pregnant women
- People with weakened immune systems
Ten affected individuals have already filed at least one lawsuit, initiating legal action. One Colorado man reportedly required emergency room treatment after eating at McDonald’s.
Barbara Kowalcyk, director of the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at George Washington University, notes that while E. coli outbreaks aren’t uncommon, this case stands out due to its scope and severity. The CDC reports that 2024 has already seen multiple outbreaks, including 13 cases linked to organic walnuts and 11 cases connected to raw cheddar cheese.
The FDA has launched a full investigation into the source of the contamination, working alongside the Department of Agriculture and CDC. While initial findings point to slivered onions as the likely source, investigators haven’t ruled out possible contamination of the quarter-pound beef patties.
This outbreak echoes the devastating 1993 Jack in the Box crisis, which led to significant changes in food safety regulations. That incident prompted the FDA to raise recommended internal cooking temperatures for hamburgers, highlighting how such crises can drive important safety reforms.
As this situation continues to develop, health authorities urge anyone experiencing symptoms after consuming potentially contaminated food to seek immediate medical attention. The CDC maintains active monitoring of the outbreak and will provide updates as new information becomes available.