McDonald's has reinstated Quarter Pounders nationwide after the Colorado Department of Agriculture's (CDA) exhaustive testing found no E. coli in fresh and frozen beef patties.

This decision follows regulatory agencies investigations into McDonald's beef patties amid an E. coli outbreak that caused one death and dozens of illnesses.

McDonald's proactively ensured customer safety by tracing supply chains and collaborating with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC), reaffirming its commitment to safety.

Cesar Piña, McDonald's Chief Supply Chain Officer, assured that the contaminated product tied to the outbreak has been eradicated from their supply chain and restaurants. "We've ensured that our entire supply chain and restaurants are contamination-free," he said.

McDonald's announces beef patties are not the source of the recent E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounder hamburgers, which has resulted in one fatality and approximately 75 illnesses across 13 U.S. West and Midwest states. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of October 25, 2024, the outbreak has led to 22 hospitalizations, with two patients developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, including a 15-year-old girl in Colorado who is experiencing kidney failure.

Investigations suggest that slivered onions on the Quarter Pounders are the likely origin of the E. coli infections. In response, McDonald's temporarily halted sales of the burgers in about 20% of its 13,000 U.S. restaurants but plans to reintroduce them without onions.

E. Coli is eliminated in beef when cooked properly, but the recent outbreak was linked to raw, slivered onions served on McDonald's Quarter Pounders. As a precaution, affected McDonald's restaurants temporarily stopped selling the burgers, and the chain has since removed fresh onions from their menu items. The outbreak, was traced to slivered onions sourced from Taylor Farms facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Taylor Farms has recalled the implicated batches. Approximately 900 McDonald's restaurants, primarily in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and parts of surrounding states (Utah, and in parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma), will resume selling Quarter Pounders without slivered onions. McDonald's has also halted onion sourcing from Taylor Farms Colorado Springs facility indefinitely.

Joe Erlinger, McDonald's US President, apologized for the recent outbreak, saying, "We are sorry." He pledged to "make this right" for affected customers, citing the company's values. The CDC has deemed the public risk "very low" following recalls by Taylor Farms and McDonald's proactive measures.

McDonald's is currently facing lawsuits from individuals who fell ill after consuming contaminated Quarter Pounders. The CDC advised those experiencing symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and vomiting after eating a Quarter Pounder to seek medical attention, as symptoms can develop up to four days after consumption. While most recover within five to seven days, some cases require hospital care.

The outbreak has impacted McDonald's stock, with shares dropping over 7.5% since the CDC's report last week. This comes after a surprise decline in global sales in July, the company's first quarterly sales drop in over three years. Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King have struggled to offer appealing value meals amidst surging prices.

Notably, McDonald's isn't the only chain affected; Taylor Farms also supplied onions to Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC, prompting these brands to remove onions from menus at select locations. Other fast-food chains have similarly pulled onions due to E. coli concerns, highlighting the industry-wide impact of food safety outbreaks.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)