McDonald’s is reintroducing its Quarter Pounder burgers to approximately 900 locations across 13 states following a temporary pause due to an E. coli outbreak. Slivered onions have been removed from the burgers as officials continue investigating the source, which is suspected to be Taylor Farms onions.
McDonald’s Restores Quarter Pounders at 900 Locations, Removes Onions Amid E. Coli Investigation
Following a temporary suspension due to a deadly E. coli outbreak associated with the menu item, McDonald's is scheduled to reintroduce its Quarter Pounder patties to approximately 900 locations this week. The affected restaurants—around 20% of McDonald’s U.S. locations—will serve the Quarter Pounders without slivered onions for the time being as health officials continue their investigation. According to CNBC, this adjustment impacts locations across Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.
In a message to the U.S. system, Cesar Pina, Chief Supply Chain Officer for McDonald’s North America, expressed confidence that any contaminated product linked to the outbreak had been removed from the supply chain. He noted that the issue appears localized to a specific ingredient and geographic area, emphasizing that the restaurant chain has indefinitely halted slivered onions from Taylor Farms, the suspected source.
According to Pina, the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s testing found no traces of E. coli in samples of beef patties from local restaurants, leading the investigation to focus on the onions. The FDA is working to determine whether Taylor Farms-produced onions are definitively responsible. McDonald’s has requested that its beef suppliers produce new supplies of fresh patties for the Quarter Pounder, aiming to restock all affected locations in the coming days.
McDonald’s Restores Quarter Pounders at 900 Locations, Removes Onions Amid E. Coli Investigation
The CDC reported on October 25 that the E. coli outbreak has resulted in 75 cases across 13 states, with 22 hospitalizations and two individuals developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure. An older adult in Colorado has died from complications related to the outbreak. Cases have been reported between September 27 and October 11, during which McDonald’s typically sells about one million Quarter Pounders in the impacted areas.
McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger apologized in a video statement, addressing customers’ concerns directly: “On behalf of the McDonald’s system, I want you to hear from me: we are sorry.”
McDonald’s third-quarter earnings report is expected before the bell on October 29. The company’s shares have fallen 7% since the CDC linked the outbreak to its restaurants.