In the United States, 75 cases of foodborne coliform infections have recently been identified nationwide. In Colorado, an elderly person died of the infection. According to authorities, most of the sick people, 42, said they had previously eaten a “Quarter Pounder” (known in Europe as Hamburger Royal) at McDonald’s.
The fast food chain then removed the burger from its menu after the food poisoning outbreaks occurred in twelve states.
No coliform bacteria found
On Sunday, McDonald’s ruled out the beef patties as the cause of the E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounder hamburgers. The Colorado Department of Agriculture said all partial samples from multiple batches of fresh and frozen McDonald’s brand beef patties tested negative for E. coli.
“We remain very confident that all contaminated products associated with this outbreak have been removed from our supply chain and are no longer in our restaurants,” said Cesar Pinathe fast food chain’s chief supply chain officer, in a statement. E. coli is killed in beef when prepared properly. No further investigations are planned.
After the suspicion of an infestation with coliform bacteria was not confirmed, McDonald’s wants to sell the “Quarter Pounder” again soon throughout the US.
The burger is usually served with raw onion rings; However, the approximately 900 affected restaurants will offer the burgers without onions because there is a suspicion that the finely chopped onions served with the burger were contaminated with the bacteria.
McDonald’s said onion supplier Taylor Farms will no longer supply the company indefinitely. Several fast food chains in the US have removed fresh onions from their products after the vegetable was identified as the likely cause of the E. coli outbreak.
Previous E. coli outbreaks have hit sales at major fast-food restaurants in the past as customers avoid affected chains.
(agencies, sif)
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28.10.2024, 7:48
