This photo shows a McDonald's Quarter Pound burger in New York's Times Square on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. An E. coli outbreak has been traced to McDonald's Quarter Pound burgers served with chopped raw onions.
Richard drew | AP
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that it is investigating whether Taylor Farms, a supplier of McDonald'sis the possible source of the E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounder burgers, which has killed at least one person and sickened nearly 50 more.
In a notice to customers, distributor US Foods said Taylor Farms announced the recall of four raw onion products out of an abundance of caution “due to possible E. coli contamination.” The notice urged customers, such as restaurants, to stop using and destroy affected products as soon as possible.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have focused on chopped onions served on burgers as the possible source of contamination.
An FDA spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the agency was investigating Taylor Farms, adding, “We are looking at all possible sources.”
As of Wednesday, 49 people have contracted E. coli infections related to the outbreak. One elderly adult died and 10 others, including a child who suffered from hemolytic uremic syndrome, were hospitalized.
Colorado restaurant chains, including Illegal Pete's and Taco Bell, also removed onions from their menu following the recall, according to local reports. There are no signs of E. coli illnesses linked to those restaurants.
Until now, it was unclear where McDonald's onions came from: Neither the restaurant chain nor public health officials had publicly said where the onions were grown or whether they were sent to other restaurants.
A McDonald's spokesperson said Wednesday that the raw onions came from a single supplier and were processed at a single facility. they are sliced and packaged on premises as raw vegetables in individual bags and then distributed to restaurants.
A Taylor Farms spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the company's website, Taylor Farms is a California-based producer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.
The strain of E. coli in the outbreak, called O157:H7, produces a powerful toxin that can damage the lining of the small intestine.
Health officials said Wednesday they expect the number of cases to rise.
