McDonald's E. coli Outbreak: Slivered Onions Suspected

The CDC has reported that 75 people in 13 states have fallen ill from eating Quarter Pounders at McDonald's. The illnesses are linked to a deadly E. coli strain, with 22 hospitalizations and one death. The CDC expects more cases to be reported as older illnesses are linked to the outbreak. Most of the sick are men, ranging from teens to seniors. Two people, a teen and an adult, have been hospitalized with a severe kidney condition. The CDC has interviewed 42 sick individuals, all of whom ate at McDonald's before falling ill. Most mentioned eating Quarter Pounder burgers. The FDA and CDC suspect the slivered onions used on the burgers as the likely source of contamination. However, they haven't ruled out the beef patties. McDonald's has removed the suspected onions and patties from restaurants in 12 states.

The outbreak highlights the challenges in tracing foodborne illnesses. Many people recover from E. coli infections without testing, so the actual number of cases could be higher. Symptoms usually start a few days after eating contaminated food. The FDA has notified restaurants that received recalled onions, and so far, no illnesses linked to these restaurants have been reported. McDonald's is facing lawsuits from people who claim they fell ill after eating there. The outbreak raises questions about food safety and the supply chain. It's not yet clear if Taylor Farms, the supplier of the onions, delivered them directly to McDonald's or through a distributor.

Actions