McDonald’s has restored the Quarter Pounder to its menu. The popular hamburger sandwich was temporarily removed from the menu in certain locations following a massive E. coli outbreak across several states that left more than 75 people hospitalized and one dead. Let’s take a look at this latest development.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Returns to the Menu
According to the Associated Press, after testing ruled out beef patties as the cause of the E. coli poisoning outbreak linked to the well-known burgers that killed one person and infected at least 75 others across 13 states, McDonald’s stated on Sunday, Oct. 27, that Quarter Pounders will once again be available at hundreds of its locations.
Per a statement from McDonald’s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration still thinks that slivered onions from a single supplier are the most likely cause of contamination. The fast-food chain stated that in the upcoming week, it will start serving the Quarter Pounder at the impacted outlets again, minus the sliced onions.
As of Friday, Oct. 25, federal health officials reported that the outbreak had spread to at least 75 sick patients across 13 states. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two of the 22 patients who were admitted to the hospital experienced a serious renal disease as a consequence of the E. coli. In Colorado, one individual has lost their life.
The FDA stated that uncooked sliced onions used on the burgers “are a likely source of contamination” based on preliminary data it examined. McDonald’s has acknowledged that the fresh onions used in the restaurants affected by the epidemic were supplied by Taylor Farms, a California-based produce company, and originated from a facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Not the Only Restaurant Affected
The recall of the sliced onions didn’t just affect McDonald’s.
As the most recent eateries to be impacted by the E. coli outbreak, Burger King and KFC have both removed fresh onions from their menus.
After Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled its yellow onion packs that are peeled, chopped, and whole “due to potential E. Coli contamination,” PEOPLE has confirmed that the fast-food titans are among the numerous eateries that have temporarily removed the popular topping from their menus. Taylor Farms further suggested that customers “stop using affected” products “as soon as possible.”
Burger King stated to the outlet that after examining its “restaurant supply,” it came to the conclusion that “there is no crossover with McDonald’s for the vast majority of our onion facilities.” Despite asserting that it “only uses whole, fresh onions” in its restaurants and that only a small minority of its locations “do receive onions distributed from the Taylor Farms Colorado facility,” the fast-food giant advised all of its locations to get rid of the onions it had in its restaurants out of caution.
“Despite no contact from health authorities and no indications of illness, we proactively asked our 5% of restaurants who received whole onions distributed by this facility to dispose of them immediately two days ago and we are in the process of restocking them from other facilities,” a spokesperson for the restaurant confirmed to the outlet.
Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut’s parent company, Yum! Brands, has also acknowledged that it has eliminated fresh onions from its restaurants “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We will continue following supplier and regulatory guidance to ensure the ongoing safety and quality of our food,” a representative for the conglomerate told Today.
Last week, Taco Bell and Colorado restaurant chain Illegal Pete’s temporarily removed onions off their menus as well due to the recall and worries about the E. coli outbreak at fast-food giant McDonald’s.
