Health Officials Close McDonald's-Linked E. Coli Investigation; Onions Likely Source -- WSJ

Dow Jones12-04 03:25

By Roshan Fernandez

Federal health officials concluded their investigation into an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders, determining that slivered onions served on the burgers were the likely culprit.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said a total of 104 people were infected across 14 states, with 34 hospitalized and one death. State and federal health officials said Tuesday that one sample of recalled yellow onions and one environmental sample from a grower tested positive for E. coli, though neither matched the strain linked to the reported illnesses.

The FDA cited epidemiologic and traceback evidence to show that the recalled yellow onions were the likely source of the outbreak. State and local health officials interviewed people who were infected, and said that most remembered eating McDonald's items with slivered onions.

"The process to reach this point has at times felt long, challenging and uncertain," McDonald's Chief Impact Officer Michael Gonda and Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña said in a statement on Tuesday. "We are deeply grateful that [health officials] moved quickly to identify and, in partnership with McDonald's, contain the issue."

The company didn't detail how the E. coli outbreak affected sales or foot traffic, and didn't comment on potential legal action.

McDonald's shares traded slightly higher Tuesday, while broader U.S. stock indexes moved slightly lower.

Taylor Farms, the onion supplier linked to the outbreak, initiated a voluntary recall of its yellow onions shortly after the E. coli news broke, and McDonald's said it had stopped sourcing onions from the implicated facility and a related farm.

McDonald's earlier this month said it was investing $100 million to accelerate its recovery from the outbreak and support affected franchisee restaurants.

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December 03, 2024 14:25 ET (19:25 GMT)

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Health Officials Close McDonald's-Linked E. Coli Investigation; Onions Likely Source -- WSJ

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