Additional Coverage:
- McDonald’s E. coli outbreak leads Burger King, others to pull onions from some menus (newsbreak.com)
Fresh Onions Removed from Restaurants Amid E. coli Outbreak
In response to an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, several other fast-food chains are taking precautions. Yum Brands has removed onions from select locations of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell out of caution. Burger King has disposed of onions from 5% of its restaurants that received them from a Colorado facility.
The outbreak, which has sickened 49 people in 10 states and killed one, is suspected to be linked to onions used on McDonald’s burgers. The chain has stopped selling Quarter Pounders in affected areas while health officials investigate.
Taylor Farms, the supplier of the onions to McDonald’s, has tested its products and found no traces of E. coli. However, the company has removed yellow onions from the market produced at its Colorado facility.
The majority of the illnesses have been reported in Colorado and Nebraska. Other states affected include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, and Wisconsin. At least 10 people have been hospitalized, including a child with a serious kidney condition.
Symptoms of E. coli infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Most people recover without treatment, but it can take three to four weeks to determine if someone is part of the outbreak.