McDonald’s has pulled an item from the menu in the 10 affected states as a precautionary measure. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that one person has died and another 49 are confirmed cases of E.coli believed to be as a result of a popular McDonald’s menu item.

Between September 27 and October 11, 10 US states reported people testing positive for E.coli.  A total of 49 cases of illness have been reported in 10 states, with one fatality involving an elderly individual. Ten people have been admitted to the hospital, among them a child who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication that can arise from an E. coli infection. The majority of the cases have been identified in Colorado and Nebraska.

States and individuals affected

E. coli cases linked to McDonald’s have so far been reported in several states, including Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Out of the 49 total cases, 27 are in Colorado, where one person has died, and a child is suffering from severe kidney complications.

The ages of those impacted range from 13 to 88 years old.

The investigation

In response, the fast food chain released a statement confirming that they have stopped using ‘slivered onions’ as well as quarter-pound beef patties supplied by a single source that serves three distribution centers. They have paused the distribution of these onions in affected areas and have also temporarily removed the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in those regions “as a precautionary measure.”

According to the CDC, McDonald’s is working with the organization to identify the contaminated ingredient, with the investigation officially starting from October 22.

Officials are concerned that the number of cases may rise significantly since it can take weeks for new cases to be reported.

McDonald’s statement

McDonald’s issued a statement, as reported by NBC Chicago, emphasizing: “At McDonald’s, ensuring customer safety in all of our restaurants is our top priority, and it’s something we will never compromise on. This is why we are taking swift and decisive action in response to the E. Coli outbreak affecting certain states.