US: E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Onions Hits McDonald’s, Sparks Nationwide Recall

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified fresh onions as the probable source of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s restaurants, resulting in 49 illnesses and one death. Taylor Farms, which supplies onions to McDonald’s, has recalled several batches of yellow onions from a Colorado facility. McDonald’s has temporarily removed its quarter-pounder hamburger, which includes fresh onions, from menus in several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming.

Following McDonald’s actions, other fast-food chains are also being cautious. Yum Brands, which owns KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, has opted to remove fresh onions from select menus as a preventive measure. Similarly, Burger King’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International, has removed onions from at least one outlet in Colorado. According to an on-duty Burger King manager, the corporate directive is to avoid onions until further notice.

While many strains of E. coli are harmless, certain types can cause serious illness and fatalities. Past bacterial outbreaks have negatively impacted fast-food chains, as wary customers avoid the affected brands. McDonald’s and Restaurant Brands International have not yet commented on the issue.