One person has died and dozens have fallen ill in the United States following an outbreak of Escherichia coli bacteria linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday ( CDC).
The outbreak, which began in late September, has spread across 10 western states, with most of the 49 cases concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska, according to the health agency.
Shares of the fast food chain fell more than 8% on Wall Street in trading after the announcement.
A total of 10 people have been hospitalized, including a child with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious illness that damages blood vessels in the kidneys. “An elderly person in Colorado has died,” says a CDC statement.
All affected people were carriers of the same strain of «E. coli” and reported eating McDonald’s “Quarter Pounder” burgers before developing symptoms.
Although authorities have not yet identified the exact ingredient causing the outbreak, they are focusing on onions and beef, which have been removed from restaurants in affected states pending further investigation.
“Food safety is very important to me and to everyone at McDonald’s,” Joe Erlinger, president of the United States of the fast food company, reacted in a video message this Tuesday. “We have taken steps to proactively recall sliced onions, which are used in ‘Four Pounders,’ in some states.”
“We have also made the decision to temporarily withdraw the ‘Quarter Pounder’ from restaurants in certain states,” he said.
Signs of poisoning (fever and diarrhea) usually begin three to four days after ingestion, and most people recover within five to seven days without treatment. However, some conditions may worsen and require hospitalization.
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