The E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has now sickened at least 75 people across 13 states. There have been 22 hospitalizations. According to the CDC, two cases have involved kidney complications. One person in Colorado has died.

E. Coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders — Pictured is a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwich box purchased Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Source Traced to Onion Supplier

Though no definitive source has been identified, FDA officials suspect uncooked slivered onions on the burgers may be the culprit. McDonald’s confirmed that Taylor Farms, based in California, supplied onions from its Colorado Springs facility to affected locations. McDonald’s has since stopped sourcing onions from this facility indefinitely, and Taylor Farms preemptively recalled onions from the facility.

McDonald’s Pulls Quarter Pounders from Menus in Affected Areas

McDonald’s has pulled the Quarter Pounder from select locations, primarily in the Midwest and Mountain states. The CDC notes some cases are linked to travel. Several sickened individuals ate at McDonald’s locations while traveling across states.

Fast-Food Chains Take Precautions

Other fast-food giants have also pulled Taylor Farms onions from select menus. This includes Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King. They took this action as a precautionary measure.

First Lawsuit in E. coli Outbreak

A McDonald’s customer has filed a lawsuit against the fast-food chain over an E. coli outbreak tied to its Quarter Pounder, which has reportedly killed one person and sickened dozens nationwide.

Eric Stelly filed the lawsuit in Illinois’ Cook County Circuit Court. He claims he experienced nausea, cramps, and bloody stools. This happened after he ate at a McDonald’s in Greeley, Colorado, three weeks ago. His attorney, Ron Simon, states that these symptoms are typical of E. coli poisoning. The 10-page lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY, accuses McDonald’s of negligence and product liability.

Illnesses Reported Over Two-Week Period

Illnesses in the outbreak were reported from September 27 to October 11, with symptoms occurring shortly after eating contaminated food. This outbreak highlights the serious impact of E. coli, which causes around 74,000 infections and 61 deaths annually in the U.S.