McDonald’s says onions from California grower linked to deadly E. coli outbreak

SALINAS, California. – California grower was source of fresh onions linked to deadly E. coli food poisoning outbreak 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 Taylor Farms, of Salinas, California, shipped onions to a distribution facility, prompting the fast-food chain to remove Quarter Pounder burgers of restaurants in several states. McDonald’s did not say which facility it was.

An outbreak linked to hamburgers has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states, including one person who died, federal health officials said. The researchers said they were focused on chopped onions as a potential source of infections.

US Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants nationwide, said Thursday that Taylor Farms had this week issued a recall of peeled, whole and diced yellow onions for possible contamination with E. coli. 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 its recall did not include any products sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants.

Taylor Farms did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

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

Meanwhile, others national restaurant chains I temporarily stopped using fresh onions.

“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.

Yum Brands, based in Louisville, Kentucky, did not say where the onions were recalled or whether the company uses the same supplier as McDonald’s. Yum Brands said it will follow guidelines 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 facilities in Colorado. Burger King restaurants receive deliveries of fresh, whole onions and their employees wash, peel and cut them.

Although it was not contacted by health officials and had no signs of illness, Restaurant Brands said it asked restaurants that received onions from the Colorado facility to throw them away two days ago. The company said it is restocking with onions from other suppliers.

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.

At least 10 people have been hospitalized because of the McDonald’s outbreak, including a child who suffered a serious kidney disease complication as a result of the infection. The illnesses were confirmed between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, one to two days after 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, elderly people, pregnant people, or people who have weakened immune systems.