E. coli Detected in Quarter Pounder Hamburger
'Taylor Farms' Supplied Raw Onions Identified as Cause
"Removing Onions" Proactive Measures Initiated
Recently, a food poisoning incident occurred at a McDonald's branch in the United States, and as onions in the hamburgers were identified as the cause, companies have taken proactive measures.
According to the AP News and others on the 24th (local time), McDonald's announced that the E. coli detected in their hamburgers was related to raw onions supplied by the food company 'Taylor Farms' located in Salinas, California. The problematic raw onions were supplied by a single supplier and were thinly sliced, processed, and packaged before being delivered to each branch.
Earlier, on the 22nd, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 49 people in 10 states showed symptoms of food poisoning caused by O157:H7 E. coli, with one death and 10 people receiving treatment. Furthermore, all interviewed patients reported having eaten McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers. In response, McDonald's temporarily suspended the sale of Quarter Pounders at stores in the 10 states where food poisoning occurred and launched an internal investigation to identify the cause. When initial investigations suggested that the onions used in the Quarter Pounders might be the cause, thinly sliced onions were excluded from the cooking process.
Not only McDonald's but other franchises also took proactive measures by limiting the use of raw onions in their food. Yum Brands, which owns KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, stated, "We are closely monitoring the recently reported food poisoning incidents" and announced, "To prepare for any potential issues, some stores are removing raw onions from their food." Restaurant Brands International, which operates Burger King, also said, "About 5% of Burger King locations in the U.S. use onions distributed from Taylor Farms' Colorado facility," adding, "Although we have not been contacted by health authorities nor observed signs of related illnesses, we have discarded all onions from Taylor Farms and are sourcing onions from other suppliers."
Meanwhile, the detected 'O157:H7' is a variant of E. coli that causes approximately 74,000 infections annually in the U.S., resulting in over 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths. It is especially fatal to children under five years old and can cause acute kidney failure.
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