E.coli in McDonald’s burgers: What causes it, how it spreads, who is at risk –

Global concern has been caused by the death of an elderly man in Colorado, USA, who was infected with E.coli bacteria after eating the Quarter Pounder burger at McDonald’s.

At least 49 people fell ill in 10 states, ten of whom required hospitalization, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sounding the alarm.

CNN has rounded up what we need to know about the case of the tainted burgers.

McDonald’s Contaminated Quarter Pounders

The CDC reported that dozens of people consumed the Quarter Pounders burgers before becoming ill and being taken to the hospital. A possible source of contamination, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, is chopped onions or ground beef, although a specific ingredient has not yet been confirmed as the official source of contamination.

McDonald’s removed the particular burger from a fifth of its stores. Both the onions and ground beef were recalled from stores in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

McDonald’s supplier Taylor Farms Colorado has withdrawn yellow onions from the market, the company said in a statement on Wednesday 10/22.

A spokesperson said that no traces of E.coli were found in the tests carried out on the onions. “We have never seen E.coli associated with onions before. We continue to work closely with the FDA and CDC during the investigation. Our priority is the health and well-being of our customers and consumers and the safety and quality of our products,” the relevant statement reads.

How serious can an E.coli infection be?

Escherichia coli or E. coli is a common bacteria, but the infection can be serious. It is usually caused when contaminated food or water is consumed and can be spread from person to person through poor hygiene.

Symptoms are severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and vomiting and usually appear three to four days after infection.

Although most people who become ill recover without treatment within a week, others may develop serious kidney problems and require hospitalization. The elderly, children under 5 and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of infection, according to the CDC.

When to contact the doctor

In the McDonald’s case, the outbreak killed an elderly man and hospitalized at least 10 of the 49 people infected, including a child who had hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can develop from an E. coli infection.

Most of the patients are in Colorado and Nebraska, while cases have also been reported in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The CDC recommends that anyone who has recently eaten the Quarter Pounder burger contact their doctor, especially if they develop severe symptoms, such as a fever of 39 degrees or higher and diarrhea, especially bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that has not passed in three days, vomiting and signs of dehydration .

The investigation into McDonald’s is ongoing

The investigation McDonald’s has launched is “rapidly evolving,” although it may take weeks to determine whether an illness is part of an outbreak. The onset of infections is from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11, according to CDC data, but the outbreak’s start date is likely to shift as new cases come to light.

Outbreaks like these can disappear quickly after the contaminated food or ingredient is removed from the market. This requires thorough investigation to ensure that all of its potential distribution channels are uncovered and stopped.

What McDonald’s Says

McDonald’s USA president Joe Erlinger said products from the popular fast food chain are safe to eat and that the contaminated materials have been removed from the restaurants’ supply chain.

“We’re very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classic products without getting sick,” Erlinger said on NBC’s “Today Show” Wednesday.

“Serving customers safely at every restaurant, every day, is our top priority,” McDonald’s said in a statement Tuesday.

The company’s newsletter refers to food safety protocols that include daily temperature measurement and hourly employee hand washing. He also notes that the Quarter Pounders are cooked to order at temperatures that exceed the FDA code of best practices.

Foodborne illnesses are on the rise

Figures released by the CDC over the summer show that foodborne illness is on the rise in the US. Some illnesses, including E. coli infections, far exceed federal goals for reducing such illnesses.

In 2023 there were more than 5 diseases E. coli for every 100,000 people in the US, a 25% increase from 5 years ago and about 40% higher than federal targets.

The bacterium Campylobacter is the most common pathogen for foodborne illness, causing more than 19 illnesses for every 100,000 people, a rate that is 22% higher than five years ago and double federal targets. The infection is caused by raw or undercooked poultry, according to the CDC, and the main symptom is diarrhea.

Infections from salmonella have not increased in recent years, but the bacteria still cause about 14 illnesses for every 100,000 people in the US in 2023.

Listeria caused about 0.3 illnesses for every 100,000 people in the US in 2023, according to CDC data, but it also caused deaths.