USA | Health officials have connected an outbreak of E. coli to ingredients served in McDonald's across 10 states of America.
According to the Centre for Disease Control, as of October 22, 49 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 10 states.
Illnesses started on dates ranging from Sept 27, 2024, to October 11, 2024. Of 28 people with information available, 10 have been hospitalised, and one person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. One death has been reported from an older adult in Colorado.
Preliminary traceback and distribution information reviewed by FDA shows that slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders are a likely source of contamination. FDA has worked quickly to confirm that these onions are a source of this outbreak and to determine if these onions were served or sold at other businesses. However, FSIS is conducting traceback on hamburger patties served at McDonald's to determine if ground beef is a source of illness.
"Given that illnesses are reported in 10 different states with differing McDonalds restaurants, it is unlikely that hamburgers were undercooked in multiple locations," said William Marler or the Food Safety Law Firm.
"The more likely culprit would be the slivered onions. Onions have been linked to several foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years,” added Marler.
William "Bill" Marler has been a food safety lawyer and advocate since the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box E. coli Outbreak which was chronicled in the book, "Poisoned" and in the recent Emmy Award winning Netflix documentary by the same name.
Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation's leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over USD $850 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. The Firm’s E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products. The law firm has brought similar lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John's.
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