The number of Americans who have become sick with E. coli linked to the onions of McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has risen to 75.
The number of infections tied to the mega-popular fast food chain rose drastically from the last update on Oct 22, when the CDC announced that 49 people had gotten sick.
One person has died while two are fighting a serious condition that can cause kidney failure.
So far, 22 people have been hospitalized across 13 states, three more than was reported a few days ago.
Investigations are still ongoing as to the cause of the outbreak, linked to Quarter Pounders
McDonald’s has temporarily removed Quarter Pounder hamburgers from the menu in certain states due to a potential food safety issue.
The chain is replacing its supply of slivered onions and beef patties at locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
These adjustments are being made as investigators work to identify the source of contamination.
Currently, the affected ingredients – quarter-pound beef patties and fresh slivered onions – are mainly used for Quarter Pounders and aren’t widely included in other menu items. Investigators are also examining whether the issue could impact other restaurants or stores.
The Quarter Pounder is one of its best-sellers, selling around 1m burgers at around $6.39 each in the affected regions every fortnight.
According to the CDC: ‘The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.’
Health officials are interviewing people about what they ate before getting sick. All 42 people interviewed said they ate at McDonald’s, and 39 had a beef burger.
Of the 36 who remember which burger they had, 31 (86 percent) ate a Quarter Pounder. Some people had also traveled to other states before getting sick, and at least three ate at McDonald’s during their travels.
Infected people range in age from 13 to 88.
The source is believed to be onions produced by California-based Taylor Farms, which has said none of the products had tested positive for the bacteria that kills up to a fifth of people who become sick, and that the recall was a precaution.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection usually begin about four days after eating contaminated food and may include diarrhea and intense stomach cramps.
The troublesome symptoms generally start between three to four days after consuming the bacteria.
Some people develop a fever and can become dehydrated, but most will recover on their own.
Clarissa DeBrock has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s after being hospitalized with an E. coli infection following her consumption of one of the chain’s popular burgers.
The 33-year-old had eaten a Quarter Pounder with her fiancé and her two-year-old son, Kai, at a McDonald’s in North Platte, Nebraska, last month.
Although the burger appeared and tasted normal, five days later she began experiencing severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. Her condition worsened to the point that she sought emergency care on September 25.
