Hold the onions! 🚨 U.S. health officials confirmed 104 E. coli cases linked to slivered onions on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, with 34 hospitalizations and one reported death. The CDC traced infections across 14 states, warning of a rare but serious kidney complication affecting four patients.
What Happened? 🧅
Outbreak alerts spiked between September and October, with cases tied to travelers who ate at McDonald’s. Colorado reported the most illnesses (30), followed by Montana (19) and Nebraska (13). The CDC identified onions from Taylor Farms as the likely culprit, though lab tests didn’t match the exact outbreak strain.
What’s Safe Now? ✅
McDonald’s removed Quarter Pounders from menus in affected states, and the recalled onions are past their shelf life. The CDC says the public risk is low, but advises vigilance for symptoms like fever, vomiting, or bloody diarrhea—especially in kids under 5.
E. coli 101 🦠
This bacteria causes ~74,000 U.S. infections yearly. Symptoms hit fast—within 48 hours—and can escalate to kidney failure. If you ate a Quarter Pounder recently and feel unwell, seek medical help ASAP!
