An Oregonian is Among 49 People Infected with E. coli After Eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder
At least one Oregonian is among the 49 people known to have food poisoning in an E. coli outbreak after eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburger.
McDonald’s Shares Drop After Food Poisoning Outbreak
McDonald’s shares fell by 9% in after-hours trading after the E. coli food poisoning outbreak was announced by the CDC.
CDC Says More People Are Probably Sick
The actual number of people affected is probably much higher, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and may not be limited to the 10 states with known illnesses.
It usually takes three to four weeks after eating an E. coli-infected food for symptoms to manifest. For this reason, the CDC says the outbreak could have infected more people, while other cases go undocumented as people can recover without the need for medical attention.
Investigations now reveal that slivered onion in fresh McDonald’s quarter pounders could have caused the outbreak in which one elderly person from Colorado died, and 10 others from other states were hospitalized.
The CDC has confirmed that a child has been hospitalized with serious kidney complications due to the infection.
The outbreak began between September 27 and October 11 and has affected people in Oregon, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Colorado reported the most cases at 26, followed by Nebraska with nine.
Investigators found that everyone who became ill had eaten at McDonald’s before feeling unwell, with most of them mentioning that they ate Quarter Pounder hamburgers. Health officials from the CDC, U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several states are still investigating the outbreak.
Onions and Fresh Beef Could Be the Cause
While the exact cause is still unknown, officials are focusing on two possible culprits: onions and fresh beef. The FDA suspects that slivered onions used on the burgers may be the source of contamination, while the USDA is looking into the hamburger patties as a potential cause.
McDonald’s has responded by halting the distribution of slivered onions from a specific supplier. The company has also removed the Quarter Pounder from menus in the affected states and parts of Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, as a precaution.
- coli is a type of bacteria found in the guts of animals and the environment. It can cause severe symptoms, including fever, stomach cramps, and bloody diarrhea. People experiencing these symptoms after eating a McDonald’s should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about their recent meals.
- coli infections are especially dangerous for children under 5 years old, as they can lead to acute kidney failure.