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E. coli is a bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestines of warm blooded organisms, and while many strains are harmless, a few are capable of causing serious illness in humans.
Pathogenic strains of E. coli can cause such diverse disease processes as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, septicemia and on rare occasions hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which can damage kidney function and has about a 10% mortality rate.
A much smaller outbreak occurred here in 2009 (see E. Coli: In the Raw (cookie dough)), that involved 77 patients across 30 states - and raised awareness over the dangers of eating raw pre-packaged cookie dough.
Last night the CDC published a Food Safety Alert (see media notice below) of a rapidly evolving outbreak linked to consuming McDonald's Quarter Pounders in several Mountain West States.
Severe E. coli outbreak in Mountain West states linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders; McDonald's removes suspect ingredients temporarily
NOTICE
Media Alert
For immediate release:
October 22, 2024
CDC Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
media@cdc.gov
https://www.cdc.gov/media/
A CDC Food Safety Alert regarding an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has been posted at https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O157.html
Key Points:
- 49 people from 10 states have gotten sick from the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. Most sick people are from Colorado (27) or Nebraska (9).
- 10 people have been hospitalized. One older person in Colorado has died. Additionally, one child is hospitalized with complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.
- Everyone interviewed has reported eating at McDonald's before their illness started, and most specifically mentioned eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger.
- The specific ingredient linked to illness has not yet been identified, but investigators are focused on two ingredients in particular: fresh slivered onions, and fresh beef patties.
- McDonald's reported to CDC that they proactively removed the slivered onions and beef patties used for the Quarter Pounder hamburgers from stores in the affected states while the investigation continues.
- Quarter Pounder hamburgers in some states may be temporarily unavailable.
What You Should Do:
If you have severe symptoms of E. coli infection after eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald's, seek health care and tell your provider about what you ate.
E. coli Symptoms:If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state's health department.
- Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
- Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
- Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
- For more information about E. coli, see the About Escherichia coli Infection.
The O157:H7 serotype is the most common in the United States and is linked to at least two other outbreaks in 2024 (Organic Walnuts and Raw Cheddar Cheese).
While the CDC estimates that 1 in 6 Americans are struck with (mostly minor) food poisoning each year, yesterday's announcement makes the 9th multi-state food borne illness alert issued by the CDC in 2024 (see list below).
For a detailed report on the burden of foodborne illnesses in the United States, the CDC has a webpage devoted to a major study - published in 2011 - that breaks down the numbers.
Scallan E, Hoekstra RM, Angulo FJ, Tauxe RV, Widdowson M, Roy SL, et al. Foodborne illness acquired in the United States—major pathogens. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011;17(1):7-15.
