There was great excitement: after coliform outbreaks occurred at several McDonald’s branches in the US – dozens of cases were reported, one person even died – the company has now found the reason for it. An initial suspicion was confirmed.
Sliced onions were to blame for the food scandal, and the US health authority CDC has now named it the “probable cause of the illness for this outbreak”. This confirmed the company’s suspicions, which had already offered citizens without the ingredient as a precautionary measure.
The company has already removed the onions from circulation
According to the CDC, a total of 90 illnesses were recorded in 13 states – all attributed to the consumption of Quarter Pounders between September 27 and October 16.
At least 27 people had to be treated in hospital and one elderly person did not survive the infection. After the switch to onion-free burgers, no further cases have been reported, the authority said.
During initial investigations, the CDC suspected the leek vegetable, but did not rule out that the meat itself could be affected. The onions now responsible likely all come from a production facility in Colorado. From there, the company no longer wants to receive deliveries; a logistical effort, because so far about 900 restaurants of the chain have been supplied with cut vegetables from there.
CDC: “Risk to public very low”
“Based on McDonald’s and Taylor Farms’ product promotions, the CDC believes the risk to the public remains very low,” the CDC said in its statement. However, the specific onion grower has not yet been identified.
Typical symptoms of a serious illness include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, certain strains of coliform bacteria can cause serious diseases such as kidney failure.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
