Image by ohioduidefense from Pixabay
Early December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the McDonald’s outbreak investigation is closed and has since been removed the link from the “Active Investigations” category. But news on this unfortunate situation is far from over.
More lawsuits may be filed.
Here’s what we know about why the McDonald’s outbreak investigation is closed and the potential lawsuits that may be filed soon.
Late October, the FDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began collaborating state and local partners when people who reported eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burger varieties across multiple states started falling sick with E. coli O157:H7 infections.
The first reported illnesses began around September 27,2024.
At the time, there were two possibilities.
Slivered onions and ground beef.
The agency reported that the diced onions used by the restaurant chain were not implicated in the outbreak.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s temporarily pulled Quarter Pounder beef patties in affected states off the menu.
Yellow onions distributed by Taylor Farms were eventually identified as the source of the illnesses. During the investigation, Taylor Farms initiated a recall based on the association with the outbreak and product and environmental samples testing positive for E. coli bacteria.
McDonald’s ceased serving the recalled onions and currently, there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak.
According to the final report, “CDC considers this outbreak over, and the FDA’s investigation is closed.”
Laboratory data provided investigators with some interesting information that complicated the investigation.
State partners from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) along with the FDA, collected several product and environmental samples during this investigation.
One sample from recalled onions and an environmental sample from a grower tested positive for E. coli. However, the strain did not match the one making outbreak patients sick.
Despite conflicting results, overwhelming epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicated that the recalled yellow onions were the likely source.
While laboratory data can only analyze specific samples taken, patient interviews give investigators a broader picture of common foods consumed.
Nearly all (99%) of outbreak patients interviewed reported eating at McDonald’s. All but five of those people remembered the specific menu items they ate from the restaurant. A significant 84% of those that remembered what they ate reported consuming a menu item containing fresh, slivered onions.
Over the course of the outbreak at least 104 total illnesses across 14 states were confirmed. This resulted in 34 reported hospitalizations and one death.
Cases were reported in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The last date of illness onset on record is October 21, 2024.
Escherichia coli, often referred to as E. coli, is a bacterium normally found in the intestines of people and animals. Most strains of E. coli are a harmless part of your digestive system. However, there are some strains that can make you sick. Others that can make you very, very sick.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria are one of those strains.
You can become infected after eating contaminated food, touching your mouth after touching a contaminated surface, or eating with unwashed hands after touching a contaminated surface.
Most people begin to feel sick around 3 to 4 days after exposure, but this isn’t always the case. This “incubation period” could be anywhere from 1 to 10 days.
Many people experience mild illness, starting with “mild belly pain” or non-bloody diarrhea that begins to worsen over time.
Symptoms often include:
Sick people usually feel better within 5 to 7 days and can recover without medical assistance. However, some people may experience more severe illness or even life-threatening complications.
About 5 to 10% of those with STEC will develop a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS.
HUS is a serious complication associated with STEC infection. This type of kidney failure occurs when red blood cells are destroyed and clog the filtering units in the kidneys, preventing them from doing their job properly.
If an STEC patient develops HUS, it usually begins around 7 days after initial diarrheal symptoms, just as they are beginning to improve.
HUS symptoms include:
This type of complication requires hospitalization, as the kidneys may stop working completely. HUS can also cause additional complications in organ systems and throughout the body. Most people with HUS recover within a few weeks with proper treatment, however some may suffer permanent damage or die.
Despite the recent announcement that the McDonald’s outbreak investigation is closed, additional lawsuits may be coming.
Those who have become sick but may not have come forward before may decide to do so soon. As medical bills begin making their way to outbreak patient mailboxes, they may change their mind about pursuing a legal claim.
Others are still recovering from serious illness and have been working towards getting better may be in a position to seek legal advice.
There are many reasons why additional lawsuits may be coming soon.
If you have become sick after eating food from McDonald’s and may be a part of the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak and would like to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
The experienced E. coli lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC are committed to holding responsible those whose negligence has caused harm to others. Our team has won millions of dollars in product liability and contamination lawsuits for families in situations just like yours.
Medical bills, lost time from work, and other burdens associated with recovering from or caring for someone sickened with E. coli infections add up.
Get the justice you deserve!
If you have become sick from eating food from McDonald’s, reach out to The Lange Law Firm today by calling (833) 330-3663 or click here to fill out our online form for a free, no obligation consultation. A member of our compassionate team can help go over the details of your situation to determine if you have a legal case.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
Both norovirus and hepatitis A virus contamination in berries has been a big problem in…
Foodborne risk for bird flu may be less of a risk than previously thought. But…
Two outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in Orange County California have recently surfaced. One in the…
Concerns over Legionnaires’ disease in Baltimore grow as an inmate is diagnosed with the illness.…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a new change to nutritional facts…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a request for information from two…