Oregon, 9 other states see E. coli outbreak from McDonald's Quarter Pounders

(AP) -- E. coli food poisoning linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including one person who died and 10 who were hospitalized, federal health officials said Tuesday.

The death was reported in an older person in Colorado, and one child has been hospitalized with severe kidney complications, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Infections were reported between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Colorado has the most cases, 27, followed by Nebraska with nine.

Everyone interviewed in connection with the outbreak had reported eating at McDonald's before falling ill and most mentioned eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers, the CDC said. The U.S. Agriculture Department, the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials are also investigating.

A specific ingredient has not been identified as the cause, but investigators are focused on onions and beef. A preliminary FDA investigation suggests that slivered onions served on the burgers are a likely source of contamination. The USDA is investigating the hamburger patties.

In a statement, McDonald's officials said that initial findings suggest that some illnesses are linked to onions sourced from a single supplier. The company has halted distribution of the slivered onions and temporarily removed the Quarter Pounder from menus in the affected states, and also in portions of Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“We take food safety extremely seriously and it's the right thing to do,” the statement said.

'An interesting microorganism'

"It's always upsetting to hear of (an outbreak) involving food and people either being sick or dying from it," said Dr. Marcia Walker, the director of the Food Innovation Center at Oregon State University in Portland.

The center specializes in preventing foodborne illnesses, like E. coli, by teaching proper food handling and cooking techniques.

"E. coli is an interesting microorganism," Walker told KOIN 6 News. "It lives in the intestines of cows and it gets into the meat. So it's really difficult to not have it be there."

E. coli bacteria are harbored in the guts of animals and found in the environment. Infections can cause severe illness, including fever, stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. People who develop symptoms of E. coli poisoning should seek health care immediately and tell the provider what they ate.

She said fast food chains have to stick to strict food safety protocols, like regular training on cooking temps and sanitation.

Walker stressed that washing veggies is the key to keeping things safe.

"There's potential in the field where vegetables could get cross-contamination, eat it and make it to the consumer because they're eating them raw," she said.

Dr. Walker said the investigation will move quickly with the CDC quickly narrowing down sources to protect public health.

"A lot of the rapids methods are within several hours (when) they can get information."

Blow to McDonald's

The news comes in an already tough year for the Chicago-based McDonald's chain. Its global same-store sales fell for the first time in nearly four years in the second quarter as inflation-weary customers skipped eating out or chose cheaper options. The company responded with a $5 meal deal, which was introduced at U.S. restaurants in late June and was recently extended through December. The deal doesn’t include the Quarter Pounder.

McDonald’s shares dropped 9% in after-hours trading Tuesday after the CDC’s announcement.

The type of bacteria implicated in this outbreak, E. coli O157:H7, causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. each year, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths. Infections are especially dangerous for children younger than 5 and can cause acute kidney failure.

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Associated Press writer Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this story.

KOIN 6 News anchor Anthony Kustura contributed to this report

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.