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Believe it or not, McDonald's might not be the best place to order dinner from, at least in the short term. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert on Tuesday, stating an E. coli outbreak has been linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders — and there's already been one death.
At least 49 illnesses have been reported across 10 states. An older person has even died, and there have been 10 hospitalizations. One of those hospitalizations was that of a child who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a complication that often results from an E. coli infection.
Most of the cases were in Colorado and Nebraska, and though the search has been narrowed down to those sickened having eaten a Quarter Pounder, the ingredient that is making people ill has yet to be identified. Needless to say, Quarter Pounders have been pulled from stores in the affected areas.
Update: McDonald's Deadly E. Coli Outbreak Spreads to 10 States: Full List Here
You probably can't order them in a number of states, but pass on Quarter Pounders for now. Information shows that slivered onions are a likely source of contamination, and these are only used on the Quarter Pounders. McDonald's has released a statement that the chain is taking "swift and decisive action" and the onions come from a single supplier that handles three distribution centers.
For now, McDonald's is removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Considering that ten people have gone to the hospital and one person has died, it should be taken seriously. If you've recently eaten a Quarter Pounder in the affected areas and don't feel great, note that symptoms of E.coli infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
These symptoms aren't necessarily immediate and can begin three or four days after swallowing eating infected food. And if you're worried, know that most people recover without medical intervention within a week, though others can develop serious kidney problems.
In 1982, a burger chain that wasn't initially named had an E.coli outbreak, though later McDonald's was later seen as the culprit. The chain launched an investigation into the microorganism and hired a University of Wisconsin Microbiology Professor, Dr. Michael Doyle, who recommended the chain move to new clamshell grills to cook patties from both sides.
