Fresh onions have been identified as the likely source of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s, which has resulted in 49 illnesses and one death, according to the US Department of Agriculture. This revelation has raised concerns among fast food chains that utilize this ingredient.
Taylor Farms, a supplier for McDonald’s, has issued a recall for several batches of yellow onions produced at a facility in Colorado. The notice was delivered via a memo from US Foods, one of the largest food service suppliers in the nation. While the memo does not explicitly state whether US Foods provides onions for McDonald’s, it’s notable that fresh onions are a key ingredient in the McDonald’s quarter pounder hamburger. In response to the outbreak, McDonald’s has temporarily removed the quarter pounder from its menu in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of several other states including Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
E. coli bacteria can vary in nature, with some strains being harmless while others can lead to severe illness or even death. Past outbreaks have negatively impacted sales at major fast food chains, as customers often avoid restaurants involved in such incidents.
In light of these events, Yum Brands announced that it is removing fresh onions from the menus of some of its restaurants, including KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, as a precautionary measure. Similarly, Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, has eliminated onions from the menu at at least one store in Colorado, which is at the epicenter of the outbreak.
Maria Gonzales, the manager on duty at a Burger King in Longmont, Colorado, stated, “We’ve been told by corporate to not use any onions going forward for the foreseeable future. They’re off our menu.”
As of Thursday, neither McDonald’s nor Restaurant Brands International had responded to requests for further comment regarding the situation.
