Updated December 3 with final updateA fatal E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has ended after causing 104 illnesses and one death. Thirty-four people were hospitalized, four of them with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication of E. coli infections that causes kidney failure. The person who died lived in Colorado and was not one of the patients who developed HUS.
Health officials identified slivered onions as the source of the outbreak.
On October 24, Taylor Farms issued a recall of raw onion products for potential E. coli contamination. Salinas, CA-based Taylor Farms supplies onions to McDonald’s restaurants included in the outbreak. The recalled onions were only delivered to restaurants and food service locations. They were not sold at grocery stores.
Most of the patients initially interviewed said they had eaten a Quarter Pounder before developing symptoms of an E. coli infection. Before onions were identified as the source of the outbreak, McDonald’s temporarily stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states as these ingredients are used mainly for Quarter Pounder hamburgers and not other menu items.
Multiple lots of McDonald’s brand fresh and frozen beef patties collected from various Colorado McDonald’s locations all tested negative for E. coli, the Colorado Department of Agriculture stated on October 27.
After finding a new supplier, onions were returned to the menu at affected stores.
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E. coli Outbreak Investigation
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Illnesses were reported from 14 states – Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The patients ranged in age from 1 to 88 years old.
Of the 81 people interviewed by health officials so far, 80 said they ate at McDonald’s before they became ill. Sixty-three said they had eaten a Quarter Pounder or other sandwich with slivered onions.
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Symptoms of an E. coli Infection and HUS
Symptoms of an E. coli infection usually develop within one to three days of exposure. They include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that can be bloody. About seven percent of E. coli patients develop (HUS).
Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications and antibiotics should not be given to patients with E. coli infections as they can increase the chance of developing HUS.
HUS symptoms usually set in about one week after E. coli symptoms and include:
- Pale skin
- Extreme fatigue, lethargy
- Skin that easily bruises
- Decreased urine output
- Bloody diarrhea
Anyone with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care as HUS can be fatal. Treatment for HUS includes blood transfusions, dialysis, plasma exchange, and kidney transplants.
Experienced E. coli Lawyers
The E. coli Team at Pritzker Hageman has represented clients in every major U.S. E. coli outbreak.
In one recent case, our team of E. coli lawyers, obtained one of the largest E. coli verdicts in U.S. history on behalf of a young girl who contracted an E. coli-HUS infection from animal contact at a pumpkin patch. As a result of her E. coli-HUS infection, our client suffered a life-threatening illness that caused severe kidney damage.
If you or your family member developed an E. coli infection from contaminated food and you would like a free consultation with an experienced E. coli lawyer, please contact us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.