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Why Your Favorite Quarter Pounder Disappeared from McDonald’s Menu

Is your favorite Quarter Pounder suddenly missing from the menu at your local McDonald’s? 

Well, you’re not alone. 

McDonald’s has pulled this iconic burger from about 1 in 5 of its U.S. restaurants. The reason? An outbreak of E. coli that has affected nearly 50 people across 10 states, with one reported fatality. 

While the investigation is still ongoing, the popular fast food chain isn’t taking any chances and has removed both Quarter Pounder beef patties and onions from certain locations as a precaution.

Wait, What’s Going On with the Quarter Pounder?

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Let’s break it down: McDonald’s recently found itself at the center of an E. coli outbreak investigation. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked the Quarter Pounder to an outbreak that has affected people across multiple states, including Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. 

This has led the company to pull the burger from many of its restaurants as federal health officials try to pinpoint exactly what caused the contamination.

Now, McDonald’s has been very clear that they don’t believe the beef patties themselves are to blame. They think the culprit might actually be the slivered onions used on the burgers. 

If that’s the case, it would be a pretty rare occurrence since onions usually don’t carry this strain of E. coli. But with food safety, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

How Many People Have Gotten Sick?

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So far, 49 cases of E. coli linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders have been reported, and most of these have been in Colorado and Nebraska. Tragically, one older adult in Colorado has died from the illness. 

The CDC has also confirmed several cases in other states, including Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and Iowa. At least 10 people have been hospitalized, and one child is currently suffering from a severe condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure.

The illnesses started popping up at the end of September, and the most recent case was reported as of mid-October. 

So, if you’ve eaten a Quarter Pounder recently and haven’t felt sick, you’re probably in the clear. But if you’re experiencing some of the severe symptoms of E. coli (more on that in a minute), it might be worth a visit to your doctor.

What Exactly Is E. Coli?

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E. coli is a bacteria that can cause some pretty unpleasant symptoms, like stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Most people who get sick from E. coli recover after about a week without needing medical treatment. 

However, in some cases, it can lead to more severe health issues like dehydration, kidney problems, and, as we’ve seen, even death.

The good news? E. coli doesn’t stick around in your system for too long. Most people feel the symptoms pretty quickly, usually within a few days of eating contaminated food. If you ate a Quarter Pounder a while back and haven’t had any symptoms yet, you’re likely in the clear.

How Serious Are the Symptoms?

If you ate a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder recently and are now feeling under the weather, here are some symptoms to keep an eye on:

  • Diarrhea that lasts more than three days
  • Fever higher than 102°F
  • Bloody diarrhea (this one’s a major red flag)
  • Severe vomiting that makes it hard to keep any liquids down
  • Signs of dehydration like a dry mouth or feeling dizzy when you stand up

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to reach out to your healthcare provider.

What’s McDonald’s Doing About It?

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McDonald’s is not wasting any time trying to get to the bottom of this. They’ve removed both Quarter Pounder beef patties and slivered onions from locations in several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and parts of Idaho and Nebraska. 

The company says they’ve cooked their burgers at 175 degrees—hot enough to kill E. coli—but the onions were uncooked, which could explain how the bacteria spread.

While McDonald’s has stopped selling Quarter Pounders at some locations, they’re also working with their suppliers to figure out if the onions are really to blame. 

Taylor Farms, the company that provided the onions to McDonald’s, says they’ve tested their products and found no trace of E. coli, but they’ve still pulled their yellow onions from the market just to be cautious.

What Should You Do If You’ve Eaten a Quarter Pounder Recently?

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If you’ve had a Quarter Pounder in the past few weeks and feel fine, you can probably relax. As Rutgers University food safety expert Donald Schaffner said, if you ate the burger back in September and haven’t felt sick by now, you’re likely safe. 

However, if you’re experiencing any symptoms of E. coli, especially the severe ones, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor.

Also, it never hurts to stay informed. Keep an eye out for updates from the CDC and McDonald’s as they continue to investigate the situation.

How Will This Impact McDonald’s?

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It’s not just health concerns McDonald’s has to worry about. The fast-food giant is also feeling the financial impact. McDonald’s shares dropped more than 5% after news of the E. coli outbreak and the Quarter Pounder pull. 

That’s a big hit for any company, but especially for a fast food chain that relies on its reputation for quality and consistency.

Plus, McDonald’s has been working hard to win back customers who are feeling the pinch from high food prices. They even launched a $5 value meal earlier this year to attract budget-conscious diners. This outbreak, though, could make it tougher for them to keep those customers coming back.

What Happens Next?

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Right now, the CDC and McDonald’s are both working to figure out exactly what caused the outbreak. Investigators are still testing food samples, including the onions, to see if they can confirm where the E. coli came from. 

In the meantime, McDonald’s has pulled Quarter Pounders and onions from affected locations, and suppliers like Taylor Farms are taking extra precautions.

Once the source of the contamination is identified, McDonald’s will likely start reintroducing the Quarter Pounder to locations where it’s been pulled. But until then, fans of the burger will just have to wait.

Sources:

https://nypost.com/2024/10/23/business/mcdonalds-pulls-quarter-pounders-from-20-of-all-us-locations-after-deadly-e-coli-outbreak

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mcdonalds-quarter-pounder-us-ecoli-1.7361546

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