McDonald’s US President Joe Erlinger (pictured here) said on Wednesday that he is ‘very confident’ that customers can still go to McDonald’s amid an E coli outbreak
McDonald’s bosses are pleading with Americans to continue eating at their restaurants amid a “serious” E Coli outbreak linked to the Quarter Pounder burger.
Joe Erlinger, the fast-food giant’s US president, said the chain was “taking swift action” to remove the burger from affected states.
The Quarter Pounder has been temporarily phased out in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as certain areas of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Erlinger added that investigators had highlighted two items that may have been the source of contamination: sliced onions and beef patties specifically used in the Quarter Pounder, which is purchased by 100,000 Americans in the U.S. every day.
These ingredients are not used in any other menu items.
Erlinger said TODAY: ‘We are confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics.
“This was quick and decisive action by us, and it is the quarter pounder and the two ingredients of that quarter pounder that are under investigation by the CDC.
“So I want to say to our consumers, you can go to McDonald’s today with confidence.”
The CDC announced Tuesday that 49 people in 10 states became ill with E. coli after eating at McDonald’s.
One “older” man in Colorado has died and a child has been hospitalized with severe kidney damage due to the infection.
The CDC announced that 49 people in 10 states became ill with E. coli after eating at McDonald’s. Most ate a Quarter Pounder (pictured here)
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The CDC said a total of 10 patients have been hospitalized for the condition, which affects more than 110,000 Americans annually and kills up to one in five of them.
However, officials said the actual number of sick people is “likely much higher” than reported cases, as many patients recover without undergoing testing or treatment.
Mr. Erlinger said the company is working closely with its supplier and the CDC.
He said: ‘Food safety is our top priority at McDonald’s, it is the top priority in this building where I am, at McDonald’s headquarters. It’s a top priority at our nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the US. It is also the top priority for our suppliers.
“This is something we talk about as everyone’s issue. And so as the investigation continues, and we’ll continue to get into the details of those investigations, I don’t think that’s important.
“What’s important today is that we took action to protect the American public and promote public health.”
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Erlinger noted that since the onset of the disease between September 27 and October 11, any contaminated product has “very likely already worked itself through the supply chain.”
“But we will certainly work with the CDC and collaborate with them on the investigation, and we will collect more data and let science guide our actions,” he added.
Cesar Piña, chief supply chain officer for McDonald’s North America, said initial findings from the CDC investigation indicate the outbreak may be linked to onions sourced from a single supplier serving three distribution centers.
He said: ‘As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to withdraw this product from their stock and we have halted the distribution of all chopped onions in the affected area.’
He added: ‘We take food safety very seriously and it is the right thing to do. Affected restaurants will receive a stock recovery notice today and should contact their supply chain manager or distribution center with any questions.”
He assured buyers that all other menu items were unaffected and available.
Symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli include severe diarrhea and vomiting
E coli are bacteria that are commonly found in the intestines of animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and deer.
While most are harmless, some can cause a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, including stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
The bacteria can be found in food and water contaminated with feces from infected animals.
E coli infection sickens about 95,000 Americans a year and kills about 17 to 20 percent.
Young children and older adults are at the greatest risk of dying from E coli due to a naturally weakened immune system.
Symptoms include diarrhea, fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, vomiting and signs of dehydration, such as not urinating or dry mouth, according to the CDC.
The patients in the current outbreak were infected with strain O157:H7, the most common strain in humans that has been shown to cause serious intestinal infections.
The CDC said, “If you have serious symptoms of an E. coli infection after eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s, seek health care and tell your provider what you ate.”