More than 100 are sick after the latest E.coli outbreak
IE.coli linked to onions left on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers in the US has sickened 104 people, according to US health officials.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in the update On Wednesday, 34 people were admitted to hospitals due to the disease and one man died in October.
McDonald’s supplier, Taylor Farms, recalled onions in October after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared E.coli – a type of bacteria that can cause serious stomach problems – in onions as “the source”.
The BBC has contacted McDonald’s and Taylor Farms for comment.
According to the CDCthe first days of public illness from 12 September and 21 October.
The onion was spread directly to many western and midwestern states, including Colorado, Iowa, and Kansas. Other areas were also affected, such as Oklahoma, Idaho and New Mexico.
Onion and organic samples from McDonald’s stores and distribution centers were collected by the FDA, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Of those who did get sick, four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) – a rare kidney condition that can damage red blood cells.
The federal agency said testing of samples is ongoing, adding that it has completed testing at an onion grower in Washington state and at a Taylor Farms processing facility in Colorado.
In the FDA’s review, health officials said it continues to work with food suppliers and their customers.
“At this time, there do not appear to be ongoing food safety concerns related to these outbreaks at McDonald’s restaurants,” the update said.
It added that it was “unlikely” that the recalled onions “were sold to grocery stores or directly to consumers”.
McDonald’s halted sales of the Quarter Pounder burger in October at about a fifth of its US restaurants due to the outbreak.
Some consumers have taken legal action against the company, including a proposed class action lawsuit filed in October.
The company said in October that it stopped working with the company that sells onions and removed them from its stores.
The fast food giant he started selling burgers again of all restaurants in America after it said that samples of its beef, taken by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, were found to be free of bacteria.
On October 29, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski apologized of the outbreak, saying the company “apologies for what our customers have experienced”.
“We are very sympathetic and willing to do this,” he added.
Source link