Fast food giants like Burger King, KFC, and Taco Bell have removed fresh onions from several of their locations amid concerns over a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the outbreak has sickened at least 49 people across 10 states, resulting in one fatality and the hospitalization of 10 others, including a child suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure.
The outbreak, which federal health officials believe may be connected to slivered onions used in McDonald's Quarter Pounders, has prompted several chains to act preemptively. Taylor Farms, the California-based supplier of McDonald's onions, issued a recall of its peeled and diced yellow onions due to potential contamination, warning customers to cease use of the affected products immediately.
Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, confirmed that it has removed fresh onions from select restaurants as a precautionary measure. A spokesperson for Yum Brands said, "We will continue following supplier and regulatory guidance to ensure the ongoing safety and quality of our food." Although the company has not disclosed which specific locations were impacted, it emphasized that it took the step out of an "abundance of caution."
Burger King has also responded by instructing 5% of its U.S. locations that receive onions from Taylor Farms' Colorado facility to dispose of the potentially affected produce. The company stated that it had not been contacted by health authorities and had no reports of illness, but decided to act quickly to mitigate any potential risk. "We are in the process of restocking from other facilities," a Burger King spokesperson added.
McDonald's, at the center of the outbreak, has taken significant steps to address the issue. The fast-food giant has pulled Quarter Pounders from restaurants in several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska. In a statement, McDonald's Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña confirmed that the company had instructed local restaurants to remove the slivered onions and had paused distribution in the affected areas. He reassured customers that other menu items, including hamburgers, Big Macs, and cheeseburgers, were not impacted and remain available.
The investigation by the CDC and other federal health officials is ongoing. While most of the cases have been concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska, illnesses have been reported in several other states, including Utah, Wyoming, Kansas, and Missouri. The exact source of the contamination is still under investigation, as authorities try to determine whether the onions or beef patties used in McDonald's Quarter Pounders are responsible for the outbreak. Taylor Farms, the onion supplier, has stated that it conducted tests on its raw and finished products and found no traces of E. coli. Nevertheless, it has removed all yellow onions from the market that were produced at its Colorado facility.
Ron Simon & Associates, a food safety law firm, has filed a complaint on behalf of a Colorado resident who reportedly fell ill after consuming a Quarter Pounder. The firm has also established a McDonald's E. coli Claim Center for victims of the outbreak, which can be contacted by phone or through its website. The law firm anticipates more complaints to follow, as additional individuals report illnesses related to the contaminated food.
The CDC has warned that cases may continue to rise in the coming weeks, given the time it takes to confirm outbreaks and identify individuals affected by foodborne illnesses. Those infected with the toxin-producing E. coli typically experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, with most recovering within five to seven days. However, certain cases, particularly those involving HUS, can result in more severe complications.
