The Food and Drug Administration said it is continuing to investigate the source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. The FDA said most of the people who have become ill reported eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers.
More than 75 people have been infected with the strain of E. coli O157:H7 in 13 states, where 22 people have been hospitalized and one death has been reported, the FDA said.
The agency said it is still working to determine if the slivered onions or beef patties on Quarter Pounder burgers are the likely source of contamination.
Taylor Farms has initiated a voluntary recall of some onions sent to foodservice customers, and those who are impacted have been contacted directly, according to the FDA. It recommends foodservice customers check to ensure the recalled onions or foods containing the onions are not frozen.
The FDA said McDonald’s temporarily stopped using Quarter Pounder slivered onions and beef patties in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Diced onions and other types of beef patties used at McDonald’s have not been implicated in this outbreak, according to the FDA.
