Taylor Farms is recalling onions that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, amid an ongoing investigation into at outbreak of the bug in McDonald’s locations across at least 10 U.S. states.
The outbreak was announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 22. It has so far been connected to 49 cases of E. coli (Escherichia coli) infection, including 10 hospitalizations and the death of an elderly man.
The FDA is probing the cause, saying it suspects the slivered onions or beef patties that form part of McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. U.S. Foods has now announced a recall of four raw onion products, supplied by Taylor Farms, due to potential contamination with the dangerous bacteria.
The recall message—on a PDF file dated Tuesday—was sent to U.S. Foods customers, informing them: “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.
“If you find any of the affected product, please record the number of cases and then DESTROY THE PRODUCT.”
The file does not mention the McDonald’s outbreak, nor does it confirm whether this recall is connected in any way
An FDA spokesperson told Newsweek: “The FDA is using all available tools to confirm if onions are the source of the outbreak. This includes working with federal and state partners and the companies involved to collect and evaluate records and distribution information as part of our traceback investigation. FDA and state partners are also collecting onion samples for analysis.
“While the investigation is ongoing, Taylor Farms, the supplier of slivered onions for the affected McDonald’s locations, has initiated a voluntary recall. The FDA can confirm that yellow onions were sold to additional food service customers. Customers who received recalled onions have been directly notified of the recall.”
Newsweek approached Taylor Farms for comment via email.
Symptoms of E. coli may include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it may cause kidney problems or organ failure, and it can be fatal. Young children, babies and elderly adults are most vulnerable.
The recalled products include: onion, yellow jumbo peeled pillow pack fresh, 30lbs; onion, yellow 3/8-inch diced pillow pack fresh, 4-5lbs; onion, yellow diced fresh, 5lbs; and onion, yellow whole peeled fresh, 6-5lbs.
Slivered onions and beef patties have been removed from McDonald’s menus in response to the E. coli outbreak in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Colorado is the state most affected by the incident, with 26 cases of E. coli reported there. Many of those infected with the bacteria reported eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger before getting sick.
The FDA also confirmed that diced onions and other types of beef patties at McDonald’s have not been implicated in this outbreak. It recommends that consumers with symptoms of E. coli who have recently eaten at McDonald’s should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Food safety expert Natalie Stanton recently told Newsweek: “E. coli is a type of bacteria that is commonly found in human and animal intestines.
“Many strains of E. coli are harmless to humans; others can cause food poisoning. E. coli O157—the one that appears to be implicated in the U.S. connected with McDonald’s burgers—is a particularly nasty strain that can cause food poisoning.”
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CORRECTION: This article previously stated that U.S. Foods “reportedly supplies onions to McDonald’s,” but this has been removed after a representative of U.S. Foods informed Newsweek: “U.S. Foods is not a distributor of record for McDonald’s restaurants and McDonald’s restaurants are not included in the recall notifications issued by U.S. Foods about the Taylor Farms onion products recall.”
UPDATE: The FDA’s statement has been added to this article.
