Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a safety alert concerning McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. These Quarter Pounders have led to an E. Coli outbreak in many states such as Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.
They have traced the issue to the slivered onions. These locations purchased onions from Taylor Farms in Colorado Springs, which is where the onions were contaminated. The McDonald’s franchise has cut off relations with the farm as of October 22. The FDA is still continuing to investigate the farm.
The outbreak has caused one death, along with 75 hospitalizations across 13 states. The onions have also given 2 people hemolytic uremic syndrome which causes kidney failure.
As of Sunday, the chains brought back the burgers to all 900 affected locations. The Quarter Pounders are temporarily without onions until a new supplier is found.
During the outbreak, CNN reported that McDonald’s sales dropped about 10% nationwide, and about 31% in Colorado – where the outbreak was most severe. In the coming weeks, McDonalds is coming out with chicken Big Macs and boosting their $5 value meals in order to increase sales.
