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RETALIATION? Nasty E. Coli Outbreak Hits McDonald’s, 49 People Sick, Stock Down 9%


Just two days after President Trump worked the fryer at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, the fast food chain has been hit with an apparent outbreak of E. Coli.

Over 49 people have fallen sick, and there is at least one confirmed death from what seems to be food poisoning from McDonald’s quarter pounders.

In after-hours, McDonald’s stock is plummeting, down about 9% as we write this.

Here’s what we know so far:

The CDC is saying:

CDC, FDA, USDA FSIS, and public health officials in multiple states are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Most people in this outbreak are reporting eating the Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before becoming sick. It is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated.

McDonald’s is collaborating with investigation partners to determine what food ingredient in Quarter Pounders is making people sick. McDonald’s stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states while the investigation is ongoing to identify the ingredient causing illness.

McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers are making people sick, with most illnesses in Colorado and Nebraska.

  • Quarter Pounder hamburgers will not be available temporarily in some states.
  • Investigators are working to confirm which ingredient in these hamburgers is making people sick and if it went to other restaurants or stores.
  • McDonald’s reported to CDC that it has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter pound beef patties in several states. McDonald’s is proactively making these changes while investigators work to confirm the contaminated ingredient. Quarter pound beef patties are only used on Quarter Pounders. Fresh slivered onions are primarily used on Quarter Pounder hamburgers and not other menu items.

NBC reported:

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Health officials are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders in multiple states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

It’s not yet known which ingredient in the hamburgers is making people sick. Slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties, both of which are specifically used for Quarter Pounders, are being looked at.

At least 49 people in 10 states have been sickened. One person, an older adult in Colorado, has died.

Ten people have been hospitalized, including a child who developed a kidney disease called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

McDonald’s is working with public health officials, according to the CDC. The fast-food chain has stopped using the slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states, the CDC said.

McDonald’s said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that its “initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.”

“We will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are committed to providing timely updates as we restore our full menu,” the statement said.

It’s pretty odd timing for this outbreak to hit just as the media has been slamming President Trump for working at McDonald’s….

Coincidence or retaliation?

We’ll let you be the judge…



 

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