The CDC Is Launching a 'Fast-Moving Outbreak Investigation' After 49 People Across Multiple States Were Sickened With E. Coli Linked to McDonald's

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a food safety alert linking McDonald’s Quarter Pounders to an E. coli outbreak. 

So far, 49 illnesses have been reported in 10 states, including 10 people who were hospitalized. One of those hospitalized is a child who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can develop from an E. coli infection. An older person has also died in connection with the outbreak. 

While most of the reported illnesses are in Colorado and Nebraska, the outbreak has also impacted people in Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma, per the CDC. Most of the people who fell ill told investigators that they had recently eaten a Quarter Pounder.

McDonald’s said in a statement that an initial investigation determined that “a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.” The chain said that “out of an abundance of caution,” it would stop serving Quarter Pounders in the impacted areas. “We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do,” the statement said.

McDonald’s has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states while the investigation is ongoing, according to the CDC. 

Darin Detwiler, author of the book Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions and a professor at Northeastern University, calls the news “disheartening.” 

“It’s a reminder that no brand is immune to food safety risks,” he says. “This news takes me back to the tragic Jack in the Box outbreak 31 years ago, which claimed the lives of four children — including my son Riley. Despite the advancements in food safety, incidents like these, along with the very memorable outbreaks at Chipotle and the very recent Listeria issues from brands like Boar’s Head, show we still have work to do.”

What is E. coli and why is it so dangerous? Here’s what food safety experts want you to know. 

What is E. coli?

Escherichia coli or E. coli is bacteria found in many places like the intestines of people and animals, according to the CDC. While most kinds of E. coli are harmless, some can make you sick — and even be deadly. 

People are often infected with E. coli by having contaminated food or water or by coming into contact with infected animals, environments, or other people, per the CDC. 

An E. coli infection is often serious. “Once introduced, it is difficult to control and has known to cause serious gastrointestinal illnesses — bloody diarrhea, vomiting — and can develop into other complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome in consumers who are young, old, or immunocompromised,” says Benjamin Chapman, PhD, food safety expert and department head of Agricultural and Human Sciences at North Carolina State University. “Hemolytic uremic syndrome, which often occurs in about 20-30% of those impacted in an outbreak, can be devastating.”

What are the symptoms of E. coli infection 

Symptoms of an E. coli infection depend on the type of E. coli that caused the infection. However, the CDC says they may include: 

• Bloody or watery diarrhea
• Severe stomach cramps
• Vomiting
• Fever

If someone develops hemolytic uremic syndrome, they may have the following symptoms:

• Little or no peeing
• Losing pink color in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids
• Unexplained bruising or rash of tiny red spots
• Bloody pee
• Feeling very tired or irritable
• Decreased alertness

Hemolytic uremic syndrome “is especially life-threatening for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems,” Detwiler says. 

“While many people recover from E. coli infections within a week, those who develop severe complications face life-threatening risks,” Detwiler says. “Fatalities are rare but can occur, as evidenced by past outbreaks and as we see in this current case.”

What foods are linked to E. coli infections?

E. coli can “contaminate various foods and ingredients,” Chapman says. That includes beef, vegetables, flour, sesame seeds — all of which are used in the Quarter Pounder — along with unpasteurized juices and dairy products. 

How is E. coli treated?

Most people recover from an E. coli infection on their own. However, severe cases may need to be treated with antibiotics, according to the CDC.

The CDC recommends calling your healthcare provider if you ate a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and developed severe E. coli symptoms.