An outbreak of E. coli food poisoning has been linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, leaving over 75 people ill along with 1 fatality. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have since issued a food safety alert as this matter continues to be investigated.
The FDA and CDC believe the cause of the outbreak lies within the onions or the Quarter Pounder beef patties served on the hamburger. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, suspicions have arisen, as many have noticed that these specific ingredients are not commonly used elsewhere on the menu.
Regarding personal concerns throughout this investigation, junior Lyric Woodall expressed, “Yeah, I have changed my views on the meat portion of McDonald’s; however, it will never stop me from munching on McDonald’s. Their fries are too good to give up.” Currently, the Food and Drug Administration is investigating Taylor Farms, one of McDonald’s food suppliers, as a possible source of the outbreak. This has caused other popular food chains like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, who use the same supplier to remove the onions from their products. McDonalds themselves have responded to this situation by temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from their menus in over a fifth of their locations.
Since then, Taylor Farms has announced a recall on four raw onion products, out of caution due to the potential risk of contamination. They urge customers to immediately stop using and destroy the recalled products.
If these products are the source of the problem, this will be the first time the E. coli strain, O157:H7, has been implicated in an outbreak involving raw onions, according to the CDC.
This strain of E. coli poses a great health risk, especially when exposed through food. It releases a potent toxin that is harmful to the lining of the small intestine. So far, around 75 people have fallen ill, with 22 hospitalizations and even one death. Customers who have been exposed to this sickness have reported feeling flu-like symptoms as well as cramping.
Throughout this situation, the sense of betrayal runs deep, as customers are meant to be able to trust restaurants to deliver safe and quality food. After all, they are culinary establishments.
One of those affected, Clarissa DeBock, confessed that her meal cost her a trip to the emergency room, presenting serious gastrointestinal symptoms. She has then gone on to file a lawsuit against McDonalds, requesting compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and both physical and emotional suffering.
McDonald’s officials have released a statement on their website claiming to be “very confident” that their products are completely safe, mentioning that the contaminated supply has been removed from stores and supply chains. Although the company has taken measures to uphold their standards of cleanliness, some customers remain skeptical.
“I think it’s very disheartening that this incident has happened. They are definitely poisoning their customers with this level of carelessness.” Says sophomore Rylee Polich. “In my personal opinion, I will not be returning, not that I even went there much in the first place.”
This event has served as a reminder for restaurants and food suppliers in the United States to hold their products to the highest standard. Sales have been affected by the amount of coverage on this matter, but McDonald’s has been making an effort to regain the trust of consumers around the nation.
