Among those affected, a Colorado man died, and four others developed a kidney complication that could put their lives at risk.
In October it became known the possibility that the Onions served on McDonald’s quarter-pound burgers will cause an outbreak of E. coli bacteriawhich has sickened 104 people so far. 34 of them were hospitalized and one died. In addition, cases were detected in 14 states, according to an update from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In breakdown, at least 30 cases were reported in Coloradoanother 19 in Mountain13 in Nebraska10 in New Mexicoeight in Missouri and Utahsix in Wyomingthree in Kansastwo in Michigan and one in Iowa, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.
The infections, which were reported between September 12 and October 21, left a shocking balance of cases, where, in addition to the person who died, four more developed a kidney complication that could put their lives at risk.
Sliced onions served on quarter-pound burgers were identified as the possible source of the outbreak, according to the CDC. In this way, Taylor Farms, an agricultural company based in California, recalled onions from the market possibly related to the outbreak.
Likewise, the United States Food and Drug Administration carried out analyzes in which a type of E. coli bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin was detected in a sample of onions, but that did not match the strain that caused the outbreakofficials reported.
Hospitalized and one dead
Symptoms of E. coli include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, as well as vomiting. These usually appear three or four days after ingesting the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment within five to seven days. However, some people may develop serious kidney problems and require hospitalizationaccording to what was revealed by the CDC.
Additionally, McDonald’s commented on its website that safety is ”our top priority and something we will never compromise on” and that, as such, ”that is why we are taking quick and decisive action following an outbreak of E. coli in certain states.
The company said preliminary findings indicate that a ”subset of illnesses” could be associated with sliced onions made by a supplier that supplies them to three distribution centers. Consequently, they asked all local restaurants to remove the item from their menu and the company temporarily stopped the distribution of sliced onions in the affected region.
The type of bacteria involved in this outbreak causes approximately 74,000 infections each year in the United Statesresulting in more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths a year, according to the CDC.
Source: Ambito
