McDonald’s is in the midst of a public health crisis after an E. coli outbreak linked to its popular Quarter Pounder sandwich has resulted in 49 reported cases across US, including one death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert on Tuesday, prompting the fast-food giant to take swift action, which includes pulling key ingredients from its restaurants.
The outbreak, which has been traced to McDonald’s locations primarily in western and Midwestern states, led to a significant decline in the company’s stock, plummeting by 7% after the news broke. With roughly 2,700 McDonald’s outlets affected, the company has removed Quarter Pounders and onions from their menus in those locations while working closely with investigators to pinpoint the source of the contamination.
Though McDonald’s hasn’t yet identified the exact source of the outbreak, slivered onions are suspected as the likely culprit. “McDonald’s has pulled ingredients for these burgers, and they won’t be available for sale in some states,” the CDC stated, adding that the chain has already stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in certain regions.
The CDC noted that E. coli is typically killed at cooking temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. However, McDonald’s cooks its burgers at 175 degrees, making cross-contamination or issues in the supply chain a likely scenario. The onions in question came from a single supplier serving multiple distribution centers, heightening suspicions about their involvement in the outbreak.
According to reports, the first case linked to the outbreak was recorded on 27th September, and the number of confirmed illnesses has since climbed to 49. Victims range in age from 13 to 88 years old, with 10 requiring hospitalization. Tragically, an older adult in Colorado succumbed to the illness after consuming a contaminated Quarter Pounder.
One hospitalized patient developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure. Health officials are still investigating whether the contaminated onions were distributed to other businesses, but no recalls have been issued yet.
As McDonald’s works to contain the crisis, the company is eager to avoid comparisons to Chipotle’s infamous E. coli outbreaks from 2015 to 2018. McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger reassured customers in a video message, stating, “At McDonald’s, you can count on us to do the right thing.” He also emphasized that the company’s beef products remain on the menu and that McDonald’s takes food safety “extremely seriously.”
While some analysts caution against drawing parallels to Chipotle’s past crises, the comparison has raised concerns about long-term impacts on McDonald’s reputation and sales. TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles noted, “It’s likely premature to compare the two,” pointing out that McDonald’s has responded more swiftly and isolated the issue to a few ingredients.
The ongoing investigation by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will determine the next steps, as health officials continue to monitor potential new cases. For now, McDonald’s has paused shipments of slivered onions to affected areas and is cooperating fully with investigators to mitigate further risks.
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