More cases likely in McDonald’s E. coli outbreak, heath officials say
Oct 23, 2024, 5:17 PM | Updated: 5:20 pm
A McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger and fries are shown in this photograph, in New York's Times Square, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (Richard Drew, Associated Press)
(Richard Drew, Associated Press)
SALT LAKE CITY — As the Centers for Disease Control investigate an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s, health officials say there are likely more cases than the number initially reported. Four of the confirmed cases are in Utah.
On Tuesday, the CDC reported they had linked 49 cases of E. coli to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Ten people have been hospitalized and one has died.
The 49 cases span across 10 states. However, the CDC said there may be cases in other states and the “true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported.”
Delaney Moore with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services told Dave & Dujanovic that likewise, the number of cases in Utah is likely higher than four.
“Most people who get sick with something like this, they don’t go to the doctor,” Moore said. “So there are a lot of illnesses out there that may be linked to the outbreak that we just don’t know about.”
Moore said that people experiencing symptoms associated with E. coli often don’t go to the doctor. Without a checkup, doctors can’t test for the bacteria.
E. coli causes symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. For this strain, Moore said health officials worry especially about high fevers, bloody diarrhea and dehydration.
Moore said E. coli symptoms can manifest within a day of eating contaminated food. However, for some people, it can take up to a week.
McDonald’s responds to E. coli outbreak
McDonald’s pulled two ingredients, fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties, from its restaurants in several states due to the outbreak.
The fast food giant also pulled the Quarter Pounder off menus in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas. It additionally removed it in parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
The Associated Press reported that McDonald’s pulled its Quarter Pounder hamburgers off the menus in 20% of its U.S. restaurants.
“The decision to do this is not one we take lightly and it was made in close consultation with the CDC,” McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said in a video statement. “This is a temporary change as the investigation continues, and we are working quickly to return our full menu in these states as soon as possible.
Related:
- Woman urges others to test for radon levels in their homes after cancer diagnosis
- Northern Utah to experience roller coaster of temperature changes
