FDA Investigates E. Coli Outbreak at McDonald’s Linked to California Farm
The recent E. Coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s has been traced back to a California farm, prompting an investigation by the FDA. The source of the outbreak is identified as Taylor Farms, a subsidiary of U.S. Foods based in Salinas, California, which supplies slivered onions for the popular Quarter Pounder burger.
In a statement to KSBW, a spokesperson for Taylor Farms emphasized, “We test both raw and finished products for pathogens and have found no traces of E. coli. We have never seen E. coli O157
associated with onions in the past.” Out of caution, Taylor Farms has removed yellow onions produced at their Colorado facility from the market and is actively collaborating with the FDA and CDC throughout the ongoing investigation. The company reassured customers, stating, “Our priority is the health and wellness of our customers and consumers and the safety and quality of our products.”
While Taylor Farms operates primarily out of Salinas, they have multiple facilities across the U.S., including one in Colorado Springs.
According to the CDC, the outbreak has affected 49 individuals, resulting in one fatality involving an older person in Colorado. Of those affected, 26 are in Colorado, and 9 in Nebraska. Currently, ten individuals are hospitalized due to the outbreak, including a ten-year-old who has been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), as reported by the CDC.
In response to the outbreak, Taylor Farms has issued a recall for their slivered onions and several other related products, including:
- 30-pound bags of jumbo peeled yellow onions in a pillow pack (Batch codes: TFC278, TFC281, TFC282, TFC283, TFC284, TFC285, TFC288, TFC289, TFC290, and TFC292)
- 4/5 pound bags of diced 3/8 yellow onions from Cross Valley Farms (Batch codes: TFC277, TFC278, TFC281, TFC282, TFC283, TFC284, TFC285, TFC288, TFC289, TFC291, and TFC292)
- 5-pound bags of diced yellow onions (Batch codes: TFC278, TFC281, TFC283, TFC285, TFC288, TFC290, and TFC292)
- 6/5-pound bags of whole peeled yellow onions (Batch codes: TFC278, TFC281, TFC282, TFC283, TFC284, TFC285, TFC288, TFC289, TFC290, TFC291, and TFC292)
The situation remains under investigation as health officials work to mitigate the outbreak and ensure consumer safety.
