The number of Americans who have become ill from E. coli linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders onions has risen to 75.
The number of infections linked to the mega-popular fast food chain has increased dramatically since the last update on October 22, when the CDC announced that 49 people had become ill.
One person has died while two are battling a serious condition that can cause kidney failure.
So far, 22 people have been hospitalized in 13 states, three more than reported a few days ago.
The cause of the outbreak, which is linked to Quarter Pounders, is still under investigation
McDonald’s has temporarily removed Quarter Pounder burgers from the menu in certain states due to a potential food safety issue.
The chain is replacing its sliced onion and beef patty offerings 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 while investigators work to identify the source of the contamination.
Currently, the ingredients involved – quarter-pound beef patties and fresh-cut onions – are primarily used for Quarter Pounders and are not widely included in other menu items. Investigators are also looking into whether the issue could impact other restaurants or stores.
The Quarter Pounder is one of the bestsellers, selling about 1 million burgers every two weeks in affected regions for about $6.39 each.
According to the CDC, “The actual number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the reported number, and the outbreak may not be limited to states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.”
Health officials interview people about what they ate before they got 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 becoming ill, and at least three ate at McDonald’s during their travels.
The infected people range in age from 13 to 88 years.
The source is believed to be onions produced by California-based Taylor Farms, which says none of the products tested positive for the bacteria that kills up to a fifth of people who become ill, and that the recall was a precautionary measure .
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Symptoms of an E. coli infection usually begin about four days after eating contaminated food and may include diarrhea and severe stomach cramps.
The troublesome symptoms usually begin three to four days after consuming the bacteria.
Some people develop a fever and may become dehydrated, but most recover on their own.
Clarissa DeBrock has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s after she was 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 at a McDonald’s in North Platte, Nebraska last month with her fiancé and two-year-old son Kai.
Although the burger looked and tasted normal, five days later she suffered from severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea and nausea. Her condition worsened to the point that she sought emergency care on September 25.