Health officials reported in an update on Wednesday that the number of infections in the E. coli epidemic connected to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has increased to 104, up from 90 at the prior count.
One person has passed away, four have experienced severe renal issues, and 34 have been admitted to hospitals thus far.
Although some cases date back to September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the epidemic last month.
McDonald’s and the CDC have both identified sliced onions served on Quarter Pounders as the outbreak’s most likely cause. Last month, McDonald’s revealed that the impacted outlets received the onions from California-based food manufacturer Taylor Farms. On October 22, Taylor Farms issued a recall for its yellow onions.
There doesn’t seem to be a food safety issue anymore, according to health experts on Wednesday. McDonald’s has started serving Quarter Pounders with sliced onions at the impacted locations again in the last week, using a different source for the onions.
The pandemic has spread to fourteen states. The state with the highest number of instances documented is Colorado (30), followed by Montana (19) and Nebraska (13).
Testing findings on recalled onion samples are still waiting. One sample tested positive for E. coli thus far, although the strain was different from the O157:H7 strain that was involved in the incident.
The majority of E. coli infections resolve on their own without medical intervention. Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and stomach pains are common milder symptoms. In more extreme situations, individuals may experience neurological issues, high blood pressure, kidney illness, or hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in renal failure.
Since the incident was made public, McDonald’s has been the target of many lawsuits, including a proposed class action.
“Food safety is something we will never compromise on, and we remain committed to doing the right thing,” McDonald’s stated in an online statement on Wednesday.
