McDonald's Resumes Quarter Pounder Sales After E. coli Outbreak Investigation
McDonald's has announced that it will resume selling its popular Quarter Pounder burgers at all locations next week, following an extensive investigation into an E. coli outbreak linked to the product. The outbreak, which affected 75 individuals across 13 states, resulted in 22 hospitalizations and one death, primarily concentrated in Colorado. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert as cases began to emerge, with many victims reporting consumption of Quarter Pounders prior to falling ill.
The CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been investigating the outbreak, but as of now, a specific source of contamination has not been confirmed. Initial suspicions pointed towards sliced onions or beef patties as potential culprits. However, recent testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture revealed that the Quarter Pounder beef patties tested negative for E. coli, leading McDonald's to confidently rule out the beef as the source of the outbreak. The fast-food giant plans to source a new supply of fresh beef patties to ensure customer safety.
In the affected regions, which include states such as Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming, McDonald's will resume sales of Quarter Pounders without sliced onions, as those were identified as the likely source of the contamination. The company has halted the distribution of onions from its supplier, Taylor Farms, which has also initiated a voluntary recall of potentially contaminated onion products. McDonald's has emphasized its commitment to food safety and has taken steps to ensure that any contaminated products are removed from its supply chain.
