You might want to think twice before ordering a Quarter Pounder. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 75 people in 13 states have fallen ill due to an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders. This isn't just a minor issue; 22 of these cases were serious enough to require hospitalization, and one person has even died. Most of the affected individuals, who range in age from teenagers to seniors, say they ate at McDonald's and had some beef hamburgers.

What's causing this outbreak? Health officials are pointing fingers at the slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounders. McDonald's has already stopped using these onions and also paused their beef patties in the affected areas. It's not just McDonald's; other restaurants like Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell have also pulled onions from some of their locations.

But wait, there's more. The CDC and other federal agencies are also investigating if the beef patty itself could be the real culprit. While McDonald's is working to contain the outbreak, around one-fifth of their U. S. restaurants have stopped selling Quarter Pounders.

This situation comes at a tough time for McDonald's. The company has been struggling with slow U. S. sales and has been trying to boost business with value meals. The stock has taken a hit, dropping 6% since the outbreak was first announced.

So, what's next? McDonald's is trying to reassure customers that their food is safe, but the damage to their brand could be minimal, assuming no bigger crisis emerges. They are expected to share more details about the situation during their third-quarter earnings call.

McDonald's Faces E. coli Outbreak: What You Need to Know

Actions