An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has resulted in one death and 49 illnesses across 10 states. The CDC is investigating the source, with slivered onions from a single supplier suspected. McDonald's has removed the affected burgers from menus in several states as a precaution.
According to the CDC, 'This is a fast-moving outbreak investigation,' indicating the urgency of identifying the contaminated ingredient (Axios). The New York Times reported that 'most sick people are reporting eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers,' emphasizing the direct link to McDonald's menu items. Bloomberg noted that McDonald's shares fell significantly, with analysts warning that 'this public health scare is the last thing McDonald's needs' (Bloomberg). The Independent highlighted that the outbreak has affected 49 people across 10 states, with Colorado and Nebraska being the most impacted (The Independent).
The outbreak began with cases reported from September 27 to October 11, 2024. The CDC announced the investigation on October 22, 2024, after identifying a cluster of illnesses primarily in Colorado and Nebraska, leading to heightened scrutiny of McDonald's food safety practices.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a national public health institute in the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
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McDonald's Corporation is an American fast food company, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States.
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Colorado is a state in the western United States encompassing most of the southern Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains.
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Mayo Clinic is an American nonprofit academic medical center currently based in three major locations: Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Scottsdale, Arizona, focused on integrated patient care, education, and research.
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Nebraska is a state that lies both in the Great Plains and in the Midwestern United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the s
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
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Nevada is a state in the Western United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Oklahoma is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by the state of Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New Mexico on the west, and Colorado on the northwest.