McDonald's Rules Out Beef Patties As The Source Of E. Coli Outbreak

Los Angeles: McDonald’s announced Sunday that Quarter Pounders will again be on its menu at hundreds of its restaurants after testing ruled out beef patties as source of outbreak of E. coli poisoning tied to popular burgers that killed one person and sickened at least 75 ors across 13 states.

U.S. Food and Drug ministration continues to believe that slivered onions from a single supplier are likely source of contamination, McDonald's said in a statement. It said it will resume selling Quarter Pounder at affected restaurants —- without slivered onions — in coming week.

As of Friday, outbreak h expanded to at least 75 people sick in 13 states, federal health officials said. A total of 22 people h been hospitalized, and two developed a dangerous kidney disease complication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. One person has died in Coloro.

Early information analyzed by FDA showed that uncooked slivered onions used on burgers “are a likely source of contamination,” agency said. McDonald’s has confirmed that Taylor Farms, a California-based produce company, was supplier of fresh onions used in restaurants involved in outbreak, and that y h come from a facility in Coloro Springs, Coloro.

McDonald’s pulled Quarter Pounder burger from menus in several states — mostly in Midwest and Mountain states — when outbreak was announced Tuesday. McDonald’s said Friday that slivered onions from Coloro Springs facility were distributed to approximately 900 of its restaurants, including some in transportation hubs like airports.

company said it removed slivered onions sourced from that facility from its supply chain on Tuesday. McDonald's said it has decided to stop sourcing onions from Taylor Farms’ Coloro Springs facility “indefinitely.”

900 McDonald's restaurants that normally received slivered onions from Taylor Farms’ Coloro Springs facility will resume sales of Quarter Pounders without slivered onions, McDonald's said.

Testing by Coloro Department of Agriculture ruled out beef patties as source of outbreak, McDonald's said.

department of agriculture received multiple lots of fresh and frozen beef patties collected from various Coloro McDonald’s locations associated with E. coli investigation. All samples were found to be negative for E. coli, department said.

Taylor Farms said Friday that it h preemptively recalled yellow onions sent to its customers from its Coloro facility and continues to work with CDC and FDA as y investigate.

While it remains unclear if recalled onions were source of outbreak, several or fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus in certain areas this week.

Coloro h most illnesses reported as of Friday, with 26 cases. At least 13 people were sickened in Montana, 11 in Nebraska, 5 each in New Mexico and Utah, 4 each in Missouri and Wyoming, two in Michigan and one each in Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington, CDC reported.

McDonald’s said Friday it didn’t pull Quarter Pounder from any ditional restaurants and noted that some cases in states outside original region were tied to travel.

CDC said some people who got sick reported traveling to or states before ir symptoms started. At least three people said y ate at McDonald’s during ir travel. Illnesses were reported between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11.

outbreak involves infections with E. coli 0157:H7, a of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin. It causes about 74,000 infections in U.S. annually, leing to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to CDC.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food. y typically include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and signs of dehydration — little or no peeing, increased thirst and dizziness. infection is especially dangerous for children younger than 5, people who are elderly, pregnant or who have weakened immune systems.

(Except for heline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)