McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Back On Menu After E. Coli Scare

McDonald’s has announced that Quarter Pounders will again be available at hundreds of its restaurants after tests ruled out beef patties as the source of an E. coli outbreak tied to the popular burgers.

The outbreak killed one person and sickened at least 75 others across 13 states, Sarah Parvini reported for the Associated Press (AP).

McDonald’s confirmed that Taylor Farms, a California-based produce firm, supplied the onions used in the restaurants, and they originated from a facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I Photo: McDonald's

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to believe that slivered onions from a single supplier are the likely source of contamination, McDonald’s said in a statement. The company plans to resume selling the Quarter Pounder at affected restaurants—without slivered onions—in the coming week.

As of last week, the outbreak had expanded to at least 75 people sick in 13 states, federal health officials said.

A total of 22 people had been hospitalized, and two developed a dangerous kidney disease complication, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One person has died in Colorado, JoNel Aleccia also reported for AP.

Early information analyzed by the FDA indicated that uncooked slivered onions used on the burgers “are a likely source of contamination,” the agency said.

McDonald’s confirmed that Taylor Farms, a California-based produce firm, supplied the onions used in the restaurants, and they originated from a facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

McDonald’s pulled the Quarter Pounder from menus in several states—mostly in the Midwest and Mountain states—when the outbreak was announced.

The company said that slivered onions from the Colorado Springs facility were distributed to approximately 900 of its restaurants, including some in transportation hubs like airports.