At least 104 people have become sick and 34 have been hospitalized in an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning linked to onions in McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers, federal health officials said Wednesday.
According to the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases have been confirmed in 14 states.
In Colorado, one person died and four people developed potentially life-threatening kidney disease complications.
At least 30 cases have been reported in Colorado, followed by Montana with 19, Nebraska with 13, New Mexico with 10, Missouri and Utah with eight, Wyoming with six and Kansas. Three in the state, two in Michigan and one each in Iowa and North Carolina. Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The illnesses were reported between September 12 and October 21, and at least seven people said they got sick after eating McDonald's food while traveling.
The CDC said the shredded onions served in the Quarter Pounder were likely the source of the infection. California-based agricultural producer Taylor Farms has recalled onions potentially linked to the outbreak.
Tests by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found a type of E. coli that produces a dangerous toxin in one of the onion samples, but it did not match the strain that makes people sick, officials said. Reported.
Quarter Pounders were removed from menus in several states early in the outbreak.
McDonald's officials announced Wednesday that the company has identified alternative suppliers for the 900 stores that temporarily stopped serving onion burgers.
Last week, these restaurants resumed selling Quarter Pounders with julienned onions.
“There appear to be no ongoing food safety concerns associated with this outbreak at McDonald's restaurants,” FDA officials said in a statement.
The type of bacteria involved in this outbreak causes about 74,000 infections a year in the United States, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to the CDC.
Symptoms appear quickly within 1 to 2 days after eating contaminated food and usually include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, and signs of dehydration (little or no urination, increased dry mouth, dizziness). ) is included.
This infection can cause a type of severe kidney damage, especially in children under 5 years of age. E. coli poisoning in young children requires immediate medical attention.
