McDonald’s Resumes Quarter Pounder Sales with Modified Ingredients
McDonald’s has announced the return of its popular Quarter Pounder burger to about 900 restaurants impacted by a recent E. coli outbreak. The fast-food chain initially removed the item from its menu following concerns linking the burger to the outbreak. As the health investigation continues, McDonald’s will reintroduce the Quarter Pounder at these locations but will omit slivered onions in a precautionary measure. The restaurants resuming sales are primarily in Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming, along with portions of other states including Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.
Cesar Pina, McDonald’s North American chief supply chain officer, expressed confidence that any contaminated products have been removed from the supply chain, stating that the issue appears limited to specific ingredients and locations. He assured customers that McDonald’s has taken comprehensive measures to safeguard public health.
Investigations Point to Onion Supplier as Likely Source
Preliminary testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture found no traces of E. coli in the beef patties sampled from affected McDonald’s locations. Health officials now suspect slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounders as the primary culprit behind the outbreak. While the Food and Drug Administration continues its probe, McDonald’s has indefinitely discontinued using Taylor Farms as its supplier for slivered onions. This decision aims to mitigate any further risk of contamination from that ingredient. In the interim, McDonald’s has instructed its beef suppliers to prepare fresh patties for the Quarter Pounder, ensuring that the product is reintroduced gradually to all affected locations as supply and delivery logistics allow.
E. Coli Outbreak Update and McDonald’s Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 75 E. coli cases linked to McDonald’s, spanning 13 states. Of these cases, 22 people were hospitalized, with two developing a severe kidney complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Tragically, one fatality has been recorded in Colorado, involving an older adult. The outbreak is believed to have originated between September 27 and October 11, during which McDonald’s typically sells approximately one million Quarter Pounders in the affected areas.
McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger expressed remorse over the incident, addressing customers directly in a video posted on the company’s website. Apologizing for the distress caused, Erlinger assured patrons that McDonald’s is taking every measure to prevent such incidents in the future. Ahead of the company’s upcoming third-quarter earnings report, McDonald’s has seen its stock price drop by 7% following the CDC’s connection of the E. coli cases to its restaurants.
