One person died and dozens fell ill in the USA due to an outbreak of Escherichia coli bacteria linked to burgers served at the chain McDonald’s known as “Quarterão”, informed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this Tuesday 22.
The outbreak began in late September and has spread to 10 western states, with most of the 49 cases concentrated in Colorado and Nebraska, according to the health agency.
The burger chain’s stock fell more than 8% on Wall Street in trading after the announcement.
Ten people were hospitalized, including a child with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious illness that affects the blood vessels in the kidneys. “An elderly person has died in Colorado,” the CDC reported.
All affected people carried the same strain of E. coli and reported having consumed the Quarterão sandwich before showing symptoms. Although the ingredient that caused the outbreak has not yet been identified, authorities focus on onions and meatwhich were collected from cafeterias in the affected states.
“Food safety is very important to me and everyone at McDonald’s,” Joe Erlinger, US president of the fast-food chain, reacted this Tuesday in a video message.
“We have taken steps to proactively remove sliced onions that are used in Quarterão in some states. We also made the decision to temporarily remove Quarterão from restaurants in certain states,” he added.
Erlinger highlighted that most states were not affected and that, in those affected, other products on the menu, including some with beef, continued to be available.
The CDC recommended that customers who consumed the sandwich and showed symptoms of poisoning, such as diarrhea, fever above 38.9º C and vomiting, to see a doctor.
These signs usually appear three to four days after exposure to the bacteria and most people recover within five to seven days without treatment. Some conditions, however, may require hospitalization.
