UPDATE: At least 75 people fell ill from the bacterial infection and one person died in Colorado from a strain of E. coli, theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. McDonald’s attributed the illnesses to slivered onions, and the Food and Drug Administration indicated that onions might have been the source of the outbreak.
A fatal E. coli outbreak has led to onions being removed from some Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants.
The brands’ owner Yum Brands announced Thursday it has removed fresh onions from select locations in the wake of the E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders from McDonald’s believed to be caused by onions.
That outbreak has left 49 people sickened across 10 states and one person dead. No cases have been reported in Kentucky yet.
“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” Yum Brands said. “We will continue following supplier and regulatory guidance to ensure the ongoing safety and quality of our food.”
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Also linked to the outbreak, US Foods announced a separate recall of onions sold through their third-party supplier, Taylor Farms.
Why are onions being removed from Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants?
Yum Brands said the decision to remove fresh onions from some Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants is due to caution as it monitors the E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders from McDonald’s believed to be caused by onions.
Which Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants have halted the use of fresh onions?
The company did not respond to further questions on which locations had the onions removed or who their onion supplier for those restaurants is.
Quarter Pounder sales:McDonald’s suspends burger sales in some areas after E. coli illnesses and death. What to know
Quarter Pounder linked to fatal outbreak
The outbreak was first announced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday and McDondald’s said it had taken the Quarter Pounder off the menu in one-fifth of its restaurants Wednesday.
The CDC said there have been at least 49 people sickened across 10 states, with 10 people requiring hospitalization and one death. The Colorado Department of Public Health identified that the one death occurred in the state and was an “older person with underlying conditions.”
Reported E. coli illnesses related to Quarter Pounder burgers
The CDC said that the contaminated ingredient had yet to be identified, but McDonald’s said in a statement Tuesday that an initial investigation found “a subset of illnesses” were tied to the slivered onions from a supplier that serves three of the fast-food giant’s distribution centers.
Federal safety regulators’ investigation into the E. coli outbreak has focused on the beef patty or slivered onion served on the sandwich as the likely source. Diced onions − a different type of onion than slivered − that are served on McDonald’s cheeseburgers and hamburgers are not recalled, the company said.
McDonald’s supplier subject of separate onion recall
One of Taylor Farms’ production facilities supplied onions to McDonald’s locations in the areas impacted by E. coli illnesses, McDonald’s told USA TODAY on Thursday.
However, a separate recall of Taylor Farms Colorado onions − which McDonald’s says were not related to the company’s removal of Quarter Pounders − was issued by food distribution company US Foods.
That recall notice for Taylor Farms onions stated the cause of the recall was potential E. coli contamination.
“Our records show that affected product may have been sent to your location. It is urgent that you stop using affected product as soon as possible,” the notice from US Foods read.
The recall included:
- 30-pound bags of peeled jumbo yellow onions
- 4/5-pound bags of 3/8-inch diced fresh yellow onions
- 5-pound bags of fresh diced yellow onions
- 6/5-pound bags of whole, peeled yellow onions
US Foods, which distributed the recalled Taylor Farms Colorado yellow onions, is not a supplier to McDonald’s, the fast-food chain said. US Foods further clarified to USA TODAY that the company “is not a distributor of record for McDonald’s restaurants and McDonald’s restaurants are not included in the recall notifications issued by US Foods about the Taylor Farms Colorado onion products recall.”
The FDA told USA TODAY Thursday there was no new information on the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder investigation but that the agency hasn’t linked the outbreak to Taylor Farms. “We’re still looking at all possible sources,” spokesperson Janell Goodwin said.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at [email protected] or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X: @cherylvjackson.
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