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Topics: McDonalds, Health, US News, Food and Drink
Rhianna Benson
Topics: McDonalds, Health, US News, Food and Drink
McDonald's has issued a statement after one of its customers died and countless others fell ill, having consumed Quarter Pounder burgers contaminated with E. coli in the US last week.
The fast food firm quickly took the sandwich - as well as all slivered onion garnishes - off menus in North America last week after an investigation was launched by officials.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 49 cases of illnesses across several states at the time, which saw 10 customers in hospital.
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Sadly, one individual died whilst receiving care.
As a result, the government body shared a list of symptoms of the Shiga toxin-producing E.coli - the strain which causes 'severe foodborne illness' - explaining that signs of disease usually start 3-4 days after consumption and tend to recover without treatment between days 5-7.
They explained at the time that - whilst the most common symptoms are diarrhoea, a staggeringly high fever, severe vomiting and signs of dehydration - people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS).
In these cases, they warned that individuals would need to be hospitalised.
Today, however (28 October), the restaurant franchise has recommenced all sales of Quarter Pounder products, after ruling out beef patties as the source of the outbreak.
In a statement made to press, McDonald's bosses explained that the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) had tested negative for the bacteria in respect to the burgers, and said that no further testing was planned.
The company added that the CDA had no plans for further testing.
McDonald's North America Chief Supply Chain Officer, Cesar Piña, told press: "The issue appears to be contained to a particular ingredient and geography, and we remain very confident that any contaminated product related to this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain."
Another theory surrounding the contamination was the slivered onions, which are usually sandwiched between the beef patties and buns in most McDonald's burgers.
The chain added that they have since stopped working with the supplier of these onions, and have removed them from its supply chain.
"The 900 restaurants that historically received slivered onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility will resume sales of Quarter Pounders without slivered onions," McDonald's said.
Now, the fast food company will continue to handle lawsuits from customers who fell ill.
Last week's outbreak has also resulted in the McDonald's' shares plummeting more than 7.5% their value.