Burger King removes onions due to E. coli outbreak

In the wake of the unrest E. coli outbreaklarge fast food chains are suspension taking action to protect their customers, and Burger King (QSR-1.05%) comes next.

The Whopper maker immediately ordered 5% of its locations to throw away all onions it receives from the Taylor Farms facility in Colorado. The chain is already “replenishing it from other facilities,” a company spokesperson told Quartz.

“We have reviewed our restaurant offerings in light of recent announcements,” the spokesperson added. “For the vast majority of our onion factories, there is no overlap with McDonald’s.”

So far, Burger King has not reported any illnesses linked to its onions and says it has not heard from health officials.

The decision follows a strong advice from US Foods (USFD+0.21%), urge Restaurants should stop using Taylor Farms onions and “DESTROY THE PRODUCT.” Sysco (SYY-0.51%), another major distributor, has adopted this recommendation and brought the fast food industry to the fore highest alert.

In the meantime, McDonald's has removed his beloved Quarter Pounders by 20% of more than 14,000 U.S. restaurants after a CDC report linked the outbreak to its burgers. So far, 49 cases have been reported in 10 states, including 10 hospitalizations and one death. Many affected guests say they became ill after eating a Quarter Pounder. A man in Colorado has has already sued McDonald's. Wall Street is also concerned about the outbreak and has downgraded the chain's stock rating, predicting one serious decline in sales in the coming months.

In response: McDonald's has discontinued the use of some fresh-cut onions and the special beef patties used in the Quarter Pounder during the investigation.

Also, Yum! Brands (Yummy+0.41%), the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, removed fresh onions from select locations as a precaution, but did not announce which restaurants would no longer serve the vegetable.