E. coli Detected in Quarter Pounder
50 Cases Reported in 10 States...1 Death, 10 Hospitalized
E. coli Suspected in Thinly Sliced Onions
Supply Halted and Recall Chaos...Other Menu Items Sold Normally
The entire United States is in turmoil after E. coli was detected in McDonald's hamburgers, resulting in one death. An elderly person has died immediately, and dozens have been hospitalized. More than 10 states have reported food poisoning incidents, with over 50 cases reported, raising concerns about the spread of the damage.
On the 22nd (local time), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and McDonald's, the food poisoning incident was found to be caused by thinly sliced onions used in the Quarter Pounder. The Quarter Pounder is one of McDonald's signature menu items for nearly 70 years. The name comes from the patty weighing a quarter pound (about 113g). When cheese or bacon is added, it is called Quarter Pounder with Cheese or Bacon, and if an extra patty is added, it is called a Double Quarter Pounder. If tomato is added, it is called Deluxe.
The Quarter Pounder cheeseburger contains 520 kcal. The patty, seasoned with salt and pepper, is grilled, then topped with thinly sliced onions, tangy pickles, and two slices of melted American cheese on a sesame bun. McDonald's stated that no artificial flavors, preservatives, or color additives from artificial sources are used. The pickles contain artificial preservatives, which can be omitted upon request. The E. coli was detected in the thinly sliced onions. In a message from the North American Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) on the same day, McDonald's said, "The E. coli detection may be related to the thinly sliced onions used in the Quarter Pounder." These onions are supplied by one company and distributed to each store through three distribution centers. McDonald's has completely suspended the supply and distribution of the onions from this supplier at all stores.
As a preventive measure, the sale of Quarter Pounders has been temporarily suspended in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, and all ingredients stored at each center and store will be recalled. McDonald's plans to reintroduce the Quarter Pounder within the next few weeks. However, other menu items, especially cheeseburgers, hamburgers, Big Macs, McDoubles, and double cheeseburgers, will continue to be sold.
This E. coli infection has been reported in 49 cases across 10 states, including Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Colorado has the highest number with 26 cases, followed by Nebraska with 9 cases. Among the 28 identified individuals, 10 were hospitalized, and one suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. In Colorado, one elderly person was reported to have died.
The detected strain, ‘O157:H7,’ is a variant of E. coli linked to the 1993 Jack in the Box restaurant incident where four children died after eating undercooked hamburgers. This strain causes about 74,000 infections annually in the U.S., leading to over 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths. The infection is particularly dangerous for children under five and can cause acute kidney failure. The CDC stated that all victims had eaten McDonald's hamburgers before symptoms appeared, with many reporting having eaten Quarter Pounder hamburgers. Following the CDC announcement, McDonald's stock price fell 9% in after-hours trading on the 22nd.
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