E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's ends, CDC closes case

On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the conclusion of the E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald's (NYSE:MCD ) Quarter Pounder hamburgers. The CDC has officially closed the investigation into the outbreak, which affected 104 individuals and led to 34 hospitalizations.

The outbreak, caused by the E. coli O157:H7 strain known for causing severe illness, was first identified on October 22. It resulted in one fatality linked to the consumption of slivered onions on the burgers. These onions were traced back to Taylor Farms, a supplier that serves three distribution centers. Following the outbreak, Taylor Farms recalled several batches of yellow onions that were produced in their Colorado facility.

The infection spanned across 14 states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, North Carolina, and Michigan. The CDC's update marks the end of a significant food safety concern that had ripple effects across multiple states.

In response to the outbreak, McDonald's had temporarily removed the Quarter Pounder from the menus of approximately 2,800 of its 14,000 locations in the U.S. that were affected. The fast-food giant has since resumed sales of the popular menu item after ensuring the safety of its ingredients.

Moreover, McDonald's has reintroduced slivered onions into their full menu, now sourced from a different supplier to prevent any recurrence of the issue. The closure of the case by the CDC indicates that the risk associated with the outbreak has been mitigated and that the implicated product is no longer a threat to public health.

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Source: Investing.com