Lawsuits have been filed by people who got E. coli after the fresh onions on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders were linked to a deadly outbreak of food poisoning.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting McDonald’s Quarter Pounder induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with E. Coli from McDonald’s, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Class Action Filed Against McDonald’s
In October 2024, a class action lawsuit was filed against McDonald’s on behalf of everyone who bought McDonald’s Quarter Pounders that may have been contaminated with E. coli, including people who did not get sick.
1 Dead, 104 Sick in McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak
As of November 13, 2024, at least 104 people in 14 states got sick in the McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak, including 1 person who died, between September and October 2024.
Onions Were Likely Source of E. coli
Fresh slivered onions that were used on Quarter Pounders are the “likely source of this outbreak,” the FDA said. The onions were recalled and are past their shelf-life, so health officials believe the current health risk is low.
The FDA tested these recalled onions. One sample tested positive for E. coli, but it was not a match to the strain of E. coli in this outbreak.
What About Other Ingredients?
McDonald’s also uses diced onions, but menu items with diced onions were not linked to illnesses in this outbreak. Instead, most of the sick people ate Quarter Pounders, which is made with fresh slivered onions.
Beef patties that were used on Quarter Pounders were tested for E. coli, but the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) said the “evidence does not point to ground beef as the likely source of contamination.”
No Illnesses After McDonald’s Pulled Onions
McDonald’s temporarily stopped serving Quarter Pounder beef patties and fresh slivered onions in certain states during the investigation. Since then, no illnesses have been reported by people who ate at McDonald’s after the onions were removed, and the current risk is low, according to the CDC.
Lawsuits Filed for McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak
The first lawsuits in the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak were filed by people who got sick in Colorado and Nebraska. Their lawyers said that many more lawsuits will be filed soon, calling it “one of the most significant food poisoning outbreaks this year.”
Onions Recalled in Deadly E. coli Outbreak at McDonald’s
McDonald’s identified Taylor Farms as its supplier of fresh onions for Quarter Pounders. In response, Taylor Farms recalled a massive amount of fresh yellow onions due to E. coli. These onions were sent to hundreds of fast-food restaurants and food-service customers nationwide.
Health officials said the current “risk to the public is very low,” and because Taylor Farms only recalled onions that were sold to food service customers, it is “unlikely that recalled yellow onions were sold to grocery stores or directly to consumers,” according to the FDA.
How Many People Got Sick?
As of November 13, 2024, at least 104 people in 14 states were infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 after eating at McDonald’s, according to the CDC Outbreak Investigation.
“The true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported,” according to the CDC, and “this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.”
This outbreak has been quite severe: 1 person died, 34 people were hospitalized, and 4 people developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which is a life-threatening type of kidney failure.
What Happened?
The person who died was an older adult in Colorado who had underlying health issues, according to the FDA. There was also a 15-year-old girl from Colorado who hospitalized with kidney failure after she developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of E. coli.
Where Did People Get Sick?
All of the victims got E. coli after eating at McDonald’s in September and October 2024. Most of them ate Quarter Pounders before falling ill. There may have been cross-contamination from the onions to other menu items.
Colorado is the hardest-hit state in the E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s, by far. There have been 30 confirmed illnesses in Colorado, including 1 death.
E. coli illnesses have been reported in 14 states, including but not limited to: Colorado (30), Montana (19), Wyoming (6), Kansas (3), North Carolina (1), Iowa (1), Missouri (8), Michigan (2), Nebraska (13), New Mexico (10), Oregon (1), Utah (8), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (1).
“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported,” according to the CDC. There may also be additional states where other people got sick.
Fresh Onions and Beef Tested for E. Coli
Fresh slivered onions and 1/4-pound beef patties were investigated as a possible source of the E. coli outbreak.
In interviews with health officials, most sick people reported eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger from McDonald’s before they got sick.
The only two ingredients that are primarily used on Quarter Pounders (and not other menu items) were the fresh slivered onions and 1/4-pound beef patties, so investigators focused on those two items. Diced onions were not linked to illnesses.
Outbreak Ends After McDonald’s Stops Serving Onions
During the investigation, McDonald’s temporarily stopped serving fresh slivered onions and 1/4-pound beef patties in several states to protect their customers. All of the illnesses in this outbreak started before onions were pulled off the menu.
What Should I Do?
Seek medical attention if you (or a loved one) recently ate at McDonald’s and suffered severe food poisoning.
Call your healthcare provider if you (or a loved one) ate a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder or other menu item and had severe symptoms of food poisoning with E. Coli, such as:
- Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
- Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
- Bloody diarrhea
- So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
- Signs of dehydration, such as:
- Not peeing much
- Dry mouth and throat
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
What Is E. Coli O157:H7?
The food poisoning outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders is caused by E. Coli O157:H7, which is a Shiga-toxin producing strain of E. coli bacteria.
People who are infected with this strain of E. coli typically suffer from painful stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. The symptoms usually begin within 3 or 4 days of eating contaminated food.
Most healthy adults recover from E. coli, but it can cause life-threatening complications like dehydration, kidney failure due to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), and death. Anyone can get extremely sick, but the risk is highest for young children, elderly adults, and people with weak immune systems.
McDonald’s Food Poisoning Lawsuits
Food poisoning lawsuits are being filed against McDonald’s by people in Colorado, Nebraska, and other states who got E. coli. Many of the victims ate Quarter Pounders before they got sick, but not all. This may be due to the risk of cross-contamination, which can easily spread E. coli from one food to another.
Past Outbreaks of Food Poisoning at McDonald’s
Until now, McDonald’s has had very few food poisoning outbreaks in recent years. For example, in June 2008, McDonald’s temporarily stopped serving tomatoes due to a risk of Salmonella, but no illnesses were reported.
In November 2015, a class action lawsuit was filed against McDonald’s by people who were exposed to Hepatitis A, which is a highly-contagious virus that spreads when infected restaurant-workers handle food.
However, the last major food poisoning outbreak was the McDonald’s salad outbreak in 2018, when hundreds of people were infected with Cyclospora parasites. Lawsuits were quickly filed against McDonald’s by victims, many of whom had to endure weeks of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
How Can A Lawsuit Help?
If you ate at McDonald’s and were diagnosed with E. Coli, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit or join a class action. Our lawyers can review your case for free and tell you if you qualify.
How Much Is My Lawsuit Worth?
Every case is unique, and there is never a guarantee that a lawsuit will end in a payout. If compensation is awarded, higher payouts usually go to people who suffered a very severe illness, hospitalization, or the death of a loved one.
Food poisoning lawsuits for E. coli will try to seek a financial payout for the person’s illness, pain and suffering, hospitalization, medical bills, lost income, long-term health problems, decreased quality of life, or death of a loved one.
Do I Have a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting McDonald’s Quarter Pounder induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with E. Coli from McDonald’s, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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