The Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether onions supplied by Taylor Farms are the source of an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders that has led to one death, according to NBC News.
Taylor Farms has issued a recall for some yellow onion products from its Colorado facility because of potential E. coli contamination, distributor US Food said in a recall notice. Customers were encouraged to stop using the affected products “as soon as possible” and destroy any items in stock.
Recipients must report product counts by Nov. 1, according to the recall notification.
This week, McDonald's pulled slivered onions and beef patties used in the Quarter Pounders from about one-fifth of its stores in 12 states after customers reported getting sick with E. coli, the Associated Press reported. While a specific ingredient has not been conclusively identified as the source, FDA said in its initial notice that it's likely to be slivered onions, based on preliminary traceback data.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is simultaneously testing the hamburger patties served at McDonald’s to determine if the beef is the culprit.
FDA and Taylor Farms did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Taylor Farms is based in Salinas, California, and has production facilities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
So far, 48 people have reported illnesses associated with the outbreak. Ten people have been hospitalized and one has died.
Ron Simon & Associates, a national food safety law firm, is currently representing 15 individuals who were allegedly sickened in the outbreak. A Chicago man who says he ate at a McDonald’s and later tested positive for E. coli filed the first lawsuit and is being represented by Ron Simon.
The lawsuit accuses the fast food giant of product liability, negligence and breach of implied warranties. It was filed in a Cook County, Illinois, court where McDonald’s is headquartered.
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“The McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak will be one of the most significant food poisoning outbreaks this year,” Simon said in a press release. “Through this lawsuit and others, we will make sure that all of the victims are fully compensated for their losses, that their voices are heard, and that McDonald’s and its suppliers permanently fix the health violations that caused the food to become contaminated with E. coli.”
McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said on NBC’s “Today” that customers should feel confident consuming other products from the restaurant. He added the company took “swift action” to remove the Quarter Pounder from the menu, and noted that the onset dates for the disease were between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11.
“If there has been contaminated product within our supply chain, it’s very likely worked itself through that supply chain already,” Erlinger said. “But certainly we will be working with the CDC and cooperating with them on the investigation, and we’ll take in more data and let the science continue to lead our actions.”
Bill Marler, a prominent food safety lawyer, said the outbreak is still fast-moving, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the number of reported illnesses rises in coming days.
He pointed to other outbreaks tied to onions in recent years, including a 2015 E. coli outbreak linked to Taylor Farms. The contamination will likely be traced back to the farm, where there could have been a contaminated water source or nearby cattle feedlot that may have contributed, he said.
“Onions are kind of more of a recent vehicle that people are aware of that’s causing problems, but it’s been happening more and more over the last five, six years,” Marler said.
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