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The E. coli outbreak could make you question food safety

ByVanessa

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The E. coli outbreak could make you question food safety

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McDonald's has removed the Quarter Pounder from about a fifth of its restaurants over concerns that the sandwich is linked to an E. coli outbreak that has killed one and sickened at least 49.

However, the fast food giant says consumers should feel safe eating at its restaurants across the U.S. and in parts of the U.S. where the Quarter Pounder has been removed from the menu.

The beef patty and the onion slivers that go on top have been removed from restaurants in regions where people have reported getting sick eating a Quarter Pounder, the company said in a news conference Wednesday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said onions may be the cause of the outbreak. The onions used in the Quarter Pounder come from a single supplier in the affected regions, company spokespeople said during the briefing.

McDonald's has been working with security authorities on a possible outbreak since late last week, when fewer cases were known, the company said.

Where the Quarter Pounder isn't on the menu: McDonald's locations in 12 states were affected by the E. coli outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the FDA announced Tuesday an outbreak investigation against Quarter Pounders in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The beef patties used to make Quarter Pounders in the affected areas come from multiple suppliers, making them less likely to be responsible, McDonald's said. And FSIS has not yet completed its investigation into the beef used, so there is no finality, the company said. Therefore, to protect consumers, McDonald's has withdrawn the Quarter Pounder and is also conducting its own research on the beef and onions used.

“Given the recent events of the last 24 hours, our priority is to strengthen the confidence of American consumers,” Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA, said Wednesday on NBC's “Today” show.

“Investigators from all agencies are working quickly to identify the contaminated ingredient,” the CDC said Tuesday.

But what about someone who craves a McDonald's burger and fries in states where Quarter Pounder isn't on the menu? Is it really safe? Well, that depends on your risk capacity, say experts.

Is it safe to eat at McDonald's?

OK, if you're eating a burger, put it down, chew, and swallow before reading the next sentence.

Because onions are served fresh, they can become contaminated with E. coli through fecal contamination, which can come from sewage, growing area water, fertilizers and the growing area's proximity to livestock, explain food safety attorney Bill Marler and food scientist Bryan Quoc Le, consultants for the food industry, told USA TODAY.

According to McDonald's, suppliers clean the onions, slice them and clean them again before packaging and refrigerating them. Different diced onions are used for normal burgers.

Because the onions are not fully heated before consumption, they can transfer this contamination to the consumer, they said.

There have been significant outbreaks related to onions and salmonella in the past, Marler said, and the process of contaminating onions with salmonella is no different than the process of contaminating onions with E. coli.

McDonald's has strict cooking standards and tests the heat of Quarter Pounder patties, the company said. That makes onions the likely culprit, Marler said. “It would be unusual to have undercooking in 10 different states, so it's probably a good bet that it's the onion supplier, but there's still a risk of cross-contamination within restaurants,” he said.

As for eating at restaurants, he said, “I think it's a little too early to say it's safe to eat at McDonald's,” Marler said.

However, McDonald's could increase its safety measures by closing locations where E. coli illnesses have occurred “to thoroughly clean them” because contaminated products may have passed through the kitchen facilities, Marler said. The possibility of cross-contamination could exist in sinks, on cutting boards and other food preparation surfaces, he said.

“I'm not saying that all McDonald's are unsafe to eat at,” Marler said. “However, I think that at least the restaurants where there are confirmed illnesses related to this should remain closed for a period of time to do a thorough cleaning just in case.”

Quoc Le would rather say that McDonald's remains a “pretty safe choice” for fast food fans. Beyond the Quarter Pounder, “there shouldn't be any concerns about eating them,” he said. “McDonald's is pretty good at logistics and distribution and can therefore recall many of its products relatively quickly.”

But he added: “I mean, right now, probably in the next few days, you can avoid the Quarter Pounder, but with the rest of the items I don't see a problem.”

Which states are affected?

According to the CDC, these are the states where 49 people became ill with E. coli infections between September 27 and October 11. One person in Colorado died and 10 people were hospitalized:

  • Colorado (26 cases)
  • Iowa (1)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Missouri (1)
  • Montana (1)
  • Nebraska (9)
  • Oregon (1)
  • Utah (4)
  • Wisconsin (1)
  • Wyoming (4)

McDonald's has removed the Quarter Pounder from the menu in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

What is E. coli and what are the symptoms?

E. coli or Escherichia coli is a type of bacteria that occurs harmlessly in the intestines of humans and animals. However, according to the CDC, some E. coli can cause mild to life-threatening gastrointestinal illness when consumed.

The types of E. coli that can cause diarrhea usually spread through food or water that is contaminated with feces and comes into contact with animals or people. Animals such as cattle can also transmit E. coli to food and crops. And grocery handlers can spread infections if they don't practice proper handwashing hygiene after using the restroom.

E. coli infections can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting for about five to seven days; According to the CDC, infections typically occur three to four days after consuming the germ.

Contributors: Max Hauptman and James Powel, USA TODAY and Reuters.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & Mikegsnider.

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By Vanessa

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