According to an update from McDonald’s on Wednesday, October 23, the cases appear to be linked to the restaurant’s infamous Quarter Pounder burger, and more specifically, the onion strips on the burger.
“Preliminary results of the investigation indicate that a portion of the illness may be linked to the onion strips used in the Quarter Pounders, which were purchased from a single supplier serving three distribution centers,” McDonald’s said in an update. “As a result, in compliance with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been directed to stop serving this product and we have suspended the distribution of all onion sticks in the affected areas.”
Related stories
As a precaution, the Quarter Pounder will also be removed from menus in affected areas until all investigations are completed. Affected areas appear to be limited to 12 states: Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
E. coli, or E. colia type of bacteria that lives in the intestines of healthy people. Normally, it helps digest food and its presence is usually inconsequential. However, when ingested, certain strains of E. coli can cause infection with associated gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea, severe stomach pain, and vomiting. If these problems persist, dehydration may result. In the worst cases, E. coli can cause sepsis – a serious and potentially fatal blood infection.
Symptoms usually appear within a few days after eating, drinking, or touching something contaminated with the bacteria, but some strains may make you feel sick for hours. E. coli can be spread, but not through coughing or sneezing. It is most commonly spread to people caring for the bacteria through contact with the feces of a carrier or other objects where the bacteria may be present, which is why disinfecting surfaces and washing hands is extremely important to limit its spread.
People infected with E. coli usually don’t need any treatment as long as they stay hydrated. However, in more severe cases, doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics.
