McDonald’s Onion Recall: FDA Warns of Serious Health Risk from E. Coli

According to Newsweek , On October 22, Taylor Farms issued a recall for thousands of cases of slivered yellow onions, which were distributed to McDonald’s restaurants and other food service facilities in several states. The recall follows an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, with cases reported between September 12 and October 21.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the risk of contamination as Class I, the highest level, indicating there is a “reasonable probability” that exposure to the affected product could cause severe health consequences or even death. This classification affects onions distributed in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah.

As of November 13, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 104 confirmed cases of E. coli infections linked to the outbreak across 14 states. Of these, 34 individuals were hospitalized, one person in Colorado died, and four others developed serious kidney complications.

Colorado has reported the highest number of illnesses, with 30 cases, followed by Montana (19), Nebraska (13), and New Mexico (10). Other states with reported cases include Utah, Missouri, Wyoming, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. However, the CDC believes the true number of infections is likely higher, as many individuals recover without medical care or testing for E. coli.

Taylor Farms urged customers to immediately stop using and destroy any affected onions. The CDC’s investigation linked the outbreak to Quarter Pounder burgers, which contained the tainted onions. The outbreak strain of E. coli, known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, is responsible for about 74,000 infections, 2,000 hospitalizations, and 61 deaths annually in the U.S.

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The FDA conducted testing on the recalled onions and found traces of E. coli with a harmful toxin, though it did not match the strain responsible for the outbreak. Further testing is pending.

As of now, the onions are past their shelf life and no longer in circulation at McDonald’s locations. The FDA has stated that there is no ongoing food safety concern related to this outbreak at the fast-food chain.

E. coli symptoms typically appear within one to two days of consuming contaminated food and include fever, vomiting, diarrhea (often bloody), and signs of dehydration. The infection can be particularly dangerous for young children and may lead to severe kidney damage if not treated promptly.