onion under suspicion – DW – 10/25/2024

McDonald’s took immediate action Wednesday (10/23/2024) to combat an E. coli outbreak that sickened nearly 50 people, including one person who died, by removing a menu item at restaurants in a dozen states.

The outbreak affected people in the western and midwestern United States, with 10 people hospitalized due to serious complications, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is investigating the outbreak. A McDonald’s spokesman said the outbreak is limited to the United States.

Investigators said they were focusing on chopped onions as a potential source of infections.

“We expect to see more cases,” CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said. “McDonald’s acted quickly to take action and hopefully prevent as many cases as possible,” he added.

Bow under suspicion

A California production company was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly outbreak of E. coli food poisoning at McDonald’s, the restaurant chain said Thursday (Oct. 25, 2024). Meanwhile, other fast food restaurants, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King, have also removed onions from some of their menus.

McDonald’s officials said Salinas, Calif.-based Taylor Farms sent the onions to a distribution facility, prompting the fast-food chain to recall Quarter Pounder burgers from restaurants in several states. McDonald’s did not specify what kind of establishment it was.

US Foods, a major wholesale supplier to restaurants nationwide, said Thursday that Taylor Farms recalled whole peeled and diced yellow onions this week due to possible E. coli contamination. The recalled onions came from Taylor Farms in Colorado, a US Foods spokesman said.

But the wholesaler also noted that it is not a supplier to McDonald’s and that its recall does not include products sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants. Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have not confirmed that the agency is investigating Taylor Farms. On Thursday, a spokesman said the agency was “investigating all sources” of the outbreak.

Other restaurants have stopped using onions

Meanwhile, other national restaurant chains have temporarily stopped using fresh onions.

“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak and out of an abundance of caution, we are actively recalling fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” Yum Brands said in a statement.

Yum Brands, based in Louisville, Kentucky, did not say where the onions were recalled or whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s. Yum Brands said it will continue to follow the guidance of regulators and its suppliers.

Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said Thursday that 5% of its restaurants use onions distributed by Taylor Farms operations in Colorado. Burger King restaurants receive a supply of fresh, whole onions, and employees wash, peel and chop them.

Although he was not contacted by health authorities and did not show any signs of illness, Restaurant Brands said it asked restaurants that received onions from the Colorado facility to dispose of them two days ago. The company said it is restocking onions from other suppliers.

Chipotle said Thursday it does not source onions from Taylor Farms or any other ingredients from the Colorado plant.

History of outbreaks associated with onions

Onions have been implicated in previous outbreaks. In 2015, Taylor Farms recalled a celery and onion mixture used in chicken salad from Costco after 19 people became ill with E. coli. Last year, 80 people became sick and one died in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning linked to diced onions from Gills Onions in Oxnard, California.

At least 10 people were hospitalized during the McDonald’s outbreak, including a child who suffered serious kidney complications as a result of the infection. The illnesses were confirmed between September 27 and October 11, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Exposure to E. coli bacteria

The victims were infected with E. coli 0157:H7, a type of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin. It causes about 74,000 infections annually in the U.S., resulting in more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths annually, according to the CDC.

A Greeley, Colorado man is suing McDonald’s after being exposed to E. coli. In a lawsuit filed this week, Eric Stelly claims he ate lunch at a local McDonald’s on Oct. 4 and fell ill two days later. After urgent treatment, health authorities confirmed his infection was part of an outbreak.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can appear quickly, one to two days after eating contaminated food. These usually include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, signs of dehydration, little or no urination, increased thirst and dizziness. The infection is especially dangerous for children under 5 years of age, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

SEVERAL (AP, Reuters)