A McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger is shown in this photo, in Times Square, New York, Wednesday, October 23, 2024. An E. coli outbreak has been traced to a McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger served with sliced raw onions.
Richard Drew | AP
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it was investigating whether Taylor Farms, the supplier of… McDonald'sis the likely source of an E. coli outbreak linked to eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger, which has killed at least one person and sickened nearly 50 others.
In a notice to customers, distributor US Foods said Taylor Farms had announced a recall of four raw onion products out of an abundance of caution “due to potential E. coli contamination.” The notice urged customers such as restaurants to stop using the affected products and destroy them as soon as possible.
The US Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have focused on sliced onions served on hamburgers as a possible source of contamination.
An FDA spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the agency is investigating Taylor Farms, adding: “We are looking into all potential sources.”
As of Wednesday, 49 people had E. coli infections linked to the outbreak. One elderly person died, and 10 others, including a child suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome, were taken to hospital.
Colorado restaurant chains, including Illegal Pete's and Taco Bell, also removed onions from their menu after the recall, according to local reports. There are no signs of coliform diseases associated with these restaurants.
Until now, it has not been clear where the McDonald's onions were sourced, and neither the restaurant chain nor public health officials have publicly announced where the onions were grown or whether they were sent to other restaurants.
A McDonald's spokesperson said Wednesday that the raw onions were sourced from a single supplier and processed at a single facility. They are cut and packed at the facility as raw vegetables in individual bags and then distributed to restaurants.
A Taylor Farms spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the company's website, Taylor Farms is a California-based producer of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The E. coli strain featured in the outbreak, called O157:H7, produces a powerful toxin that can damage the lining of the small intestine.
Health officials said Wednesday they expect the number of cases to rise.
