McDonald’s stops selling Quarter Pounders in 10 states after E. coli outbreak kills one and hospitalizes child – onions likely source of contamination

An elderly person was reported dead in Colorado, and one child was hospitalized with severe kidney complications, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Infestations were reported between September 27 and October 11 in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Colorado has the most cases with 26, followed by Nebraska with nine.

According to the CDC, everyone interviewed in connection with the outbreak reported eating at McDonald’s before getting sick, and most of them mentioned eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers. The US Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials are also investigating.

A specific ingredient has not been identified as the cause, but researchers have focused on onions and beef. The FDA’s preliminary investigation suggests that the likely source of the contamination is chopped onions served on hamburgers. The USDA is investigating the hamburger patties.

McDonald’s said in a statement that initial results suggest some of the illnesses are linked to onions from one supplier. The company stopped distributing chopped onions and temporarily removed Quarter Pounder from menus in the affected states, as well as parts of Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“We take food safety very seriously, and rightfully so,” the statement said.

E. coli bacteria live in the intestines of animals and are found in the environment. Infections can cause severe illness, including fever, stomach cramps, and bloody diarrhea. People who develop symptoms of E. coli poisoning should seek immediate medical attention and tell their doctor what they ate.

The news comes during an already difficult year for Chicago-based McDonald’s. Global same-store sales fell in the second quarter for the first time in nearly four years as inflation-weary shoppers turned away from eating out or opted for cheaper options. The company responded with a $5 meal deal that rolled out to U.S. restaurants in late June and was recently extended through December. The deal does not include a quarter pound coin.

McDonald’s shares fell 9% in after-hours trading Tuesday following the CDC announcement.

The type of bacteria implicated in this outbreak, E. coli O157:H7, causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. each year, resulting in more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths. The infections are especially dangerous in children under 5 years of age and can cause acute kidney failure.

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Associated Press writer DeeAnn Durbin in Detroit contributed to this story.