McDonald’s says onions from California-based produce company have been linked to deadly E. coli outbreak

A California-based produce company was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly outbreak of E. coli food poisoning at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — removed onions from some menus.

McDonald’s officials said Salinas, California-based Taylor Farms sent onions to one distribution center, prompting the fast-food chain to remove Quarter Pounder burgers from restaurants in several states. McDonald’s did not say which facility was involved.

An outbreak linked to the burgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including one person who died, federal health officials said. Researchers said they focused on planed onions as a potential source of the infections.

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US Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants across the country, said Thursday that Taylor Farms had issued a recall this week for peeled whole and diced yellow onions due to possible E. coli contamination. The recalled onions came from a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado, a US Foods spokesperson said. But the wholesaler also noted that it was not a supplier to McDonald’s and that the recall did not include products sold in the fast-food chain’s restaurants.

Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have not confirmed that the agency is investigating Taylor Farms. A spokesperson said Thursday that the agency is “looking at all sources” of the outbreak.

Other national restaurant chains have now temporarily stopped using fresh onions.

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“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” Yum Brands said in a statement.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum Brands would not say where the onions were removed or whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s. Yum Brands said it will continue to follow guidance from regulators and its suppliers.

Restaurant Brands International, owner of Burger King, said Thursday that 5% of its restaurants use onions distributed by Taylor Farms’ facility in Colorado. Burger King restaurants receive whole, fresh onions and employees wash, peel and cut them.

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Although health officials had not been contacted and there was no indication of illness, Restaurant Brands said it had asked restaurants that had received onions from the Colorado plant two days ago to throw them away. The company says it supplements onions from other suppliers.

Chipotle said Thursday that it does not source onions from Taylor Farms or other ingredients from its Colorado facility.

Onions have been implicated in previous outbreaks. In 2015, Taylor Farms recalled a celery and onion mix used in Costco chicken salads after 19 people became ill with E. coli. Last year, 80 people got sick and one died in an outbreak of salmonella poisoning caused by bagged onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California.

At least 10 people have been hospitalized during the McDonald’s outbreak, including a child who developed a serious kidney disease complication as a result of the infection. Illnesses were confirmed between September 27 and October 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Victims became infected with E. coli 0157:H7, a type of bacteria that produces a dangerous poison. It causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. annually, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths annually, according to CDC.

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A Greeley, Colorado man is suing McDonald’s after contracting an E. coli infection. In a lawsuit filed this week, Eric Stelly said he ate food from the local McDonald’s on Oct. 4 and became ill two days later. After seeking emergency care, health officials confirmed his infection was part of the outbreak.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food. They usually include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and signs of dehydration – little or no urination, increased thirst and dizziness. The infection is especially dangerous for children under 5 years old, the elderly, pregnant people or people with a weakened immune system.

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.