By laksh5382 
A Deadly E. coli outbreak connected to McDonald’sThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that Quarter Pounders have caused 75 cases in 13 states. Investigates Source of spread.
The outbreak has left 22 people hospitalized and the death of one elderly person previously reported in Colorado.
Of the 61 patients with available information, 22 have been hospitalized and two have developed a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure, called hemolytic uremic syndrome. All 42 people interviewed by the CDC reported eating at McDonald’s, while 39 people reported eating beef hamburgers, the agency said.
According to the CDC, the age of people suffering from the infection ranges from 13 to 88 years. The agency reiterated that the number of cases in the outbreak is likely much higher than has been reported so far. The CDC said the outbreak may not be limited to states with associated cases. This is because many patients do not get tested for E. coli and recover from the infection without receiving medical care, the CDC said. It also usually takes three to four weeks to determine whether a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Shares of the restaurant chain closed down 3% on Friday. The stock has fallen 7% since the CDC announced The outbreak began on Tuesday, with 49 cases and one death initially cited in 10 states.
McDonald’s declined to comment on the update, referring to the company’s statement when the outbreak was first announced.
Quarter Pounder hamburgers are a staple menu item for McDonald’s, earning billions of dollars annually.
Health officials are taking a closer look at the chopped onions used in the Quarter Pounder as a possible contaminant. McDonald’s has instructed restaurants in the affected area to remove chopped onions from their supplies, and has halted distribution of that item in the area.
According to the CDC, McDonald’s stores in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming as well as parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma have temporarily suspended the use of Quarter Pounder slivered onion and beef patties. has stopped.
McDonald’s identified California-based produce company Taylor Farms as the supplier of the chopped onions, which the company had removed from its supply chain. Taylor Farms has recalled four raw onion products due to possible E. coli contamination. burger king, Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell to pass pulled onion from select restaurants in response to the outbreak.
But federal agencies are also investigating the Quarter Pounder’s beef patty as a possible culprit.
As the CDC and other federal agencies trace cases and work to contain the outbreak, McDonald’s has removed Quarter Pounders from restaurants in affected areas. Nearly a fifth of McDonald’s US restaurants are not selling the Quarter Pounder burger.
McDonald’s spokespeople said Wednesday it was too early to say whether the outbreak was having any impact on traffic at its restaurants.
The company is expected to report its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday and may share more details about the situation with investors on a conference call.
The outbreak comes after McDonald’s suffered several quarters of sluggish U.S. sales. Price-sensitive consumers are not going to restaurants as much, causing McDonald’s and other fast-food chains to turn to value meals to increase sales. Wall Street analysts expect the company to report 0.5% growth in U.S. same-store sales for the third quarter, according to StreetAccount estimates.
For now, McDonald’s is trying to reassure customers that its menu items are safe to eat and drink and that it is taking this outbreak seriously. Experts told CNBC Barring a more serious crisis, the damage to its brand may be minimal, as has been linked to the E. coli outbreak wendy Two years ago.