McDonald's Scrambles to Contain E. coli Outbreak Linked to Quarter Pounders

McDonald's is tackling an E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders, which caused one death and affected nearly 50 others in the U.S. The CDC and McDonald's are investigating the source. The incident has impacted McDonald's sales, with the chain working to rebuild consumer trust.

McDonald's took emergency action on Wednesday in response to an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder burgers, which resulted in one fatality and nearly 50 illnesses across a dozen U.S. states. In a bid to contain the situation, the company has withdrawn the affected menu item from its restaurants.

The outbreak has been concentrated in the western and midwestern parts of the United States, with ten individuals hospitalized due to severe complications, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both the CDC and McDonald's are investigating potential contamination of slivered onions and beef patties.

This E. coli strain, notorious for causing significant health risks, is identical to the one linked to the devastating 1993 Jack in the Box incident. McDonald's has pledged to transparently address this issue, with analysts warning of possible long-term reputational damage if additional contamination sources are identified.

(With inputs from agencies.)