Cameron Bebeau

An outbreak of E. Coli in the western United States has been directly linked to McDonald’s early last week, according to reports from CNN.  
 
The outbreak mainly affected Quarter Pounder sandwiches at locations in states such as Colorado, Nebraska, and Utah. 
 
The outbreak was caused by slivered onions provided by one of McDonald’s suppliers based in California. As of October 25, it has been confirmed that sickness has spread across ten states with 49 illnesses and even one death.  
 
According to the Mayo Clinic, E. Coli exposure is commonly caused by undercooked ground beef or – in this instance – fresh vegetables. Young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems are often most vulnerable to it.  
 
Symptoms can include stomach cramping, nausea, and diarrhea. Oddly enough, it’s reported by the same clinic that most E. Coli infections are seen from June to September, although it’s unclear as to why.  
 
In response to this deadly outbreak, Yum! Brands announced they would stop serving onions at select locations out of “an abundance of caution,” as reported by Reuters. Yum’s portfolio consists of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut. 
 
This follows a rough trend for McDonald’s as key French fry supplier, Lamb Weston, was forced to shut down one of their plants and layoff 400 employees.

Photo by Jurij Kenda on Unsplash

Originally Published at: https://www.fsuthevoice.com/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-leaves-dozens-sick/