McDonald’s on Route 66 in Azusa, California on April 1, 2024.
Robert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
mcdonalds Shares fell in after-hours trading Tuesday after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers resulted in 10 hospitalizations and one death.
According to the agency, 49 cases were reported in 10 states between September 27 and October 11, with the majority in Colorado and Nebraska. The CDC added that “most” sick people reported eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
One of the patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. An elderly Colorado man has died.
McDonald’s stock fell about 7% in after-hours trading Tuesday.
McDonald’s said in a statement Tuesday that it was taking “swift and decisive action” following E. coli outbreaks in certain states.
The company said initial findings from an ongoing investigation show that some diseases are caused by the spread of the disease in sliced ​​onions (or He said the findings suggest it may be related to thinly sliced ​​raw onions. McDonald’s has directed all local restaurants to remove sliced ​​onions from their supply and suspended distribution of the ingredient in the affected areas.
This map shows where 49 people in this E. coli outbreak live.
Source: CDC
McDonald’s said the Quarter Pounder burger will be temporarily unavailable in several Western states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as some other states. It added that it is working with suppliers to replenish raw materials.
McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger said in a video that the majority of states and menu items have not been affected by the outbreak. He added that the company’s other beef products, including cheeseburgers, hamburgers, Big Macs, Mac doubles and double cheeseburgers, are not affected. These sandwiches use different types of onion products.
“We are working quickly to reopen our full menu in these states as soon as possible,” Erlinger said. “We hope these measures demonstrate McDonald’s commitment to food safety.”
The Quarter Pounder hamburger is a core menu item at McDonald’s, generating billions of dollars each year. In 2018, McDonald’s began selling fresh beef for Quarter Pounders in most U.S. stores.
The CDC said the number of people affected by the outbreak is “likely much higher” than previously reported. The agency said this is because many people are recovering from E. coli infections without getting tested or receiving medical care. The CDC added that it typically takes three to four weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak.
E. coli refers to a group of bacteria that are present in the intestines of almost all humans and animals. However, some bacteria can cause mild to severe illness if a person eats contaminated food or drinks contaminated water.
According to the CDC, symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting usually begin three to four days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover after 5 to 7 days without treatment.
Several cases of E. coli infections have been reported at McDonald’s restaurants in the past.
In 2022, at least six children in Ashland, Alabama developed symptoms consistent with E. coli poisoning after eating McDonald’s Chicken McNugget Happy Meals. Four of the six children experienced severe side effects and were hospitalized.
