Expanding E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s restaurants
E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders expands at 02:06
McDonald’s is investing $100 million to “accelerate the recovery process and support its most impacted franchisees” following an E. coli food poisoning outbreak linked to onions on the fast-food giant’s hamburgers, the company told CBS News in a statement Saturday.
The company also told CBS News: “A total of $65 million will be invested in supporting franchisees who have lost business, targeting those in the hardest-hit states.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that sliced onions found on a Quarter Pounder are the likely source of E. coli bacteria. Taylor Farms in California recalled onions potentially linked to the outbreak.
The E. coli outbreak has sickened 104 people in 14 states, federal health officials said in an update Wednesday.
At least 34 people were hospitalized, and four developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. An 88-year-old man who resided in Grand Junction, Colorado, has died, as previously reported. The disease began at the end of September, and the last appearance of the disease was on October 21, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
“There do not appear to be ongoing food safety concerns related to this outbreak at McDonald’s restaurants,” the FDA said.
However, the outbreak hurt the company’s sales.
The Quarter Pounder was removed from menus in several states in the early days of the outbreak.
In a statement obtained by CBS News on Wednesday, McDonald’s said it has found an “alternative supplier” for about 900 restaurants that have temporarily stopped serving the Quarter Pounder with sliced onions.
McDonald’s said: “Over the past week, these restaurants have resumed selling the Quarter Pounder burger with sliced onions.”
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