McDonald’s faced a significant setback in the stock market on Wednesday morning, as shares dropped approximately 7% in premarket trading. This decline followed alarming news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding an E. coli outbreak linked to the fast-food giant’s popular Quarter Pounder burgers. The outbreak has resulted in 10 hospitalizations and one reported death, with 49 cases identified across 10 states between September 27 and October 11. Colorado and Nebraska have seen the highest number of illnesses.
The CDC’s investigation indicated that the majority of those affected had consumed the Quarter Pounder. Among the patients, one individual developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. Tragically, an older adult in Colorado lost their life due to complications from the illness.
In response to the outbreak, McDonald’s has taken immediate action, announcing in a statement that it is committed to ensuring food safety. The company revealed that preliminary findings suggest that slivered onions, which are used in the Quarter Pounder and supplied by a single vendor serving three distribution centers, may be the source of the contamination. As a precautionary measure, McDonald’s has instructed its restaurants to remove slivered onions from their inventory and has paused distribution of this ingredient in affected areas.
As a result of the outbreak, Quarter Pounder hamburgers will be temporarily unavailable in several Western states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as parts of other states. McDonald’s is actively working with suppliers to replenish safe ingredients.
Despite the outbreak, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger assured customers that the majority of states and menu items remain unaffected. He confirmed that other beef products, such as cheeseburgers, Big Macs, McDoubles, and double cheeseburgers, continue to be safe for consumption as they use a different onion product.
The CDC also cautioned that the reported cases may be just the tip of the iceberg. Many individuals recover from E. coli infections without undergoing testing or seeking medical treatment, meaning the true number of cases could be much higher. The agency noted that it typically takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick patient is part of an outbreak, complicating the overall picture.
E. coli bacteria, which naturally reside in the intestines of most humans and animals, can lead to severe illness if ingested through contaminated food or water. Symptoms often manifest three to four days after exposure, including stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Most healthy individuals recover within five to seven days without requiring extensive medical intervention.
This incident is not the first of its kind for McDonald’s; the company has faced multiple reported cases of E. coli in the past. The current situation serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of food safety protocols, particularly in large-scale food operations. As McDonald’s navigates this outbreak, the fast-food giant will need to reassure consumers about the safety of its products to restore confidence and stabilize its stock performance.
