McDonald’s names more states where Quarter Pounders are being pulled amid E. coli outbreak
(Gray News) – New Mexico and Nevada have been added to the list of states where McDonald’s restaurants have removed certain Quarter Pounder ingredients following an E. coli outbreak.
While there have not been any reported illnesses in these two states, McDonald’s has removed Quarter Pounder slivered onions and beef patties from restaurants there as a precaution.
These are the 12 states where McDonald’s has temporarily removed Quarter Pounder ingredients:
- Colorado
- Nebraska
- Utah
- Wyoming
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Montana
- Oklahoma (no reported illnesses)
- Wisconsin
- New Mexico (no reported illnesses)
- Nevada (no reported illnesses)
Officials believe the E. coli outbreak is linked to Quarter Pounders, specifically either the slivered onions or beef patties.
McDonald’s said the beef patties and onions are only used on Quarter Pounders and not on other menu items.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an investigation into the illnesses began Tuesday.
The CDC said 49 people from 10 states have gotten sick, with about half of them being from Colorado.
One older person has died, and 10 people have been hospitalized. The death occurred in Mesa County, Colorado.
The sick people range from 13 to 88 years old.
The CDC said everyone they interviewed has reported eating at McDonald’s before their illness started, and most specifically mentioned eating a Quarter Pounder.
The CDC also said some people in the outbreak had reported traveling to other states before experiencing their illness. At least one person ate at McDonald’s while traveling.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the confirmed illnesses have been reported in the following states:
- Colorado: 26 people
- Nebraska: 9 people
- Utah: 4 people
- Wyoming: 4 people
- Iowa: 1 person
- Kansas: 1 person
- Missouri: 1 person
- Montana: 1 person
- Oregon: 1 person
- Wisconsin: 1 person
The first illness was reported on Sept. 27. The CDC said many illnesses may not be reported yet as it usually takes a few weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported, the CDC said.
The McDonald’s corporate office issued the following statement late Tuesday:
Most people infected with E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
According to the CDC, symptoms usually start three to four days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment after five to seven days.
The CDC urges anyone with symptoms of an E. coli infection after eating at McDonald’s to contact their doctor and report what they ate.
This story originally listed Oregon as a state where McDonald’s restaurants had removed the Quarter Pounder from its menu. The CDC reported Oklahoma locations had removed it, not Oregon. This story has been updated to reflect the correct information.
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