A deadly E. coli outbreak is linked to McDonaldThe Quarter Pounder virus has led to 75 cases in 13 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday, as it investigates the source of the outbreak.
The outbreak has led to the hospitalization of 22 people and the death of one older adult in Colorado.
Of the 61 patients with available information, 22 were hospitalized and two people developed a serious condition that can cause kidney failure, called hemolytic uremic syndrome. The agency said that all 42 people interviewed by the CDC reported eating at McDonald's, while 39 people reported eating a beef hamburger.
The ages of those infected ranged from 13 to 88 years, according to the CDC. The agency reiterated that the number of cases in the outbreak is likely much higher than what has been reported so far. The CDC added that the outbreak may not be limited to states with related cases. That's because many patients don't test for E. coli and recover from the infection without receiving medical care, the CDC said. It also usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Shares of the restaurant chain fell 2% after the update. The stock is down 6% since the CDC announced the outbreak on Tuesday, initially citing 49 cases and one death in 10 states.
McDonald's declined to comment on the update, citing the company's statement when the outbreak was first announced.
The Quarter Pounder hamburger is a staple on the McDonald's menu, generating billions of dollars annually.
Health officials are closely examining cut onions used in the Quarter Pounder as a possible contaminant. McDonald's has instructed restaurants in the affected area to remove cut onions from their supplies, and has temporarily suspended distribution of this ingredient in the area.
McDonald's stores in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming as well as parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma have temporarily stopped using onion slices and Quarter Pounder beef patties, according to the CDC.
McDonald's has identified California-based produce giant Taylor Farms as the supplier of onion slices, which the company has removed from its supply chain. Taylor Farms has issued a recall of four raw onion products due to possible E. coli contamination. Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell Onions have been recalled from select restaurants in response to the outbreak.
But federal agencies are also investigating the Quarter Pounder's beef patty as a possible culprit.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies track cases and work to contain the outbreak, McDonald's has pulled the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in affected areas. About one-fifth of McDonald's restaurants in the United States do not sell the Quarter Pounder burger.
McDonald's spokespeople said Wednesday that it was too early to know whether the outbreak would have any impact on traffic to its restaurants.
The company is expected to report its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday and could share more details with investors about the situation on the conference call.
The outbreak comes after several quarters of slowing McDonald's sales in the United States. Price-sensitive consumers have not been visiting restaurants as much, prompting McDonald's and other fast food chains to turn to value meals to boost sales. Wall Street analysts expect the company to report U.S. same-store sales growth of 0.5% for the third quarter, according to StreetAccount estimates.
Currently, McDonald's is trying to reassure its customers that its menu items are safe to eat and drink and that it is taking the outbreak seriously. Experts told CNBC that if a more serious crisis does not occur, the damage to its brand may be minimal, as is the case with the E. coli outbreak linked to… Wendy 2 years ago.
