Key TakeawaysInvestigators are looking into anE. colioutbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, with 49 people sick and 10 hospitalized so far.McDonald’s has stopped using slivered onions and Quarter Pounder beef patties while investigators figure out what caused the contamination.E. coliinfections can cause serious symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting and, in some cases, lead to dangerous complications like kidney damage.

Key Takeaways

Investigators are looking into anE. colioutbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, with 49 people sick and 10 hospitalized so far.McDonald’s has stopped using slivered onions and Quarter Pounder beef patties while investigators figure out what caused the contamination.E. coliinfections can cause serious symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting and, in some cases, lead to dangerous complications like kidney damage.

Federal health agencies are investigating a multi-stateE. colioutbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.

So far, 49 illnesses have been reported since September, including 10 hospitalizations. All the patients said they’d eaten the Quarter Pounder sandwich at McDonald’s. The most recent case was reported on October 11, according to theFood and Drug Administration(FDA). Patients range from 13 to 88 years old, with most cases occurring in males in their 20s.

These cases have been reported in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Federal investigators saythe outbreak may be more widespreadand could be affecting other states as well.

It’s unclear which ingredient is responsible for the outbreak. McDonald’s has voluntarily stopped using slivered onions and the Quarter Pounder beef patties, which are being investigated as potential sources.

Escherichia coli, orE. coli,is a common cause of foodborne illness. The bacteria can contaminate avariety of foods, including meat and produce.

People who get sick fromE. colimay develop symptoms such as severe diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and vomiting. These symptoms usually appear three to four days after eating contaminated food but can develop as soon as one day or up to 10 days later.

In severe cases,E. coliinfection may require hospitalization. It can be fatal, particularly for infants, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.A serious complication ofE. coliinfection is hemolytic uremic syndrome, which may damage the kidneys and can be life-threatening.

The FDA advises anyone experiencing food poisoning symptoms after eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder to seek emergency medical care.

What This Means for YouIf you’ve recently eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and develop symptoms of food poisoning, it’s important to seek medical attention.E. coliinfections can be serious, especially for vulnerable groups like older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

What This Means for You

If you’ve recently eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder and develop symptoms of food poisoning, it’s important to seek medical attention.E. coliinfections can be serious, especially for vulnerable groups like older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kinds ofE. coli.New York State Department of Health.Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.AboutEscherichia coliInfection.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kinds ofE. coli.New York State Department of Health.Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.AboutEscherichia coliInfection.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kinds ofE. coli.New York State Department of Health.Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.AboutEscherichia coliInfection.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kinds ofE. coli.

New York State Department of Health.Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) infections.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.AboutEscherichia coliInfection.

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