Source of McDonald’s E. coli outbreak identified in US as cases rise

As the number of cases increases, U.S. authorities have identified the likely source of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwiches.

– reported the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 90 people in 13 states fell ill as a result of the epidemic, compared to 75 at the end of last week.

The number of hospitalized people increased by five, to 27. One death has been linked to the outbreak.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that “the likely source of illness in this outbreak is fresh, chopped onion.”

McDonald’s said the onions come from a single supplier, California-based Taylor Farms. The company has since recalled yellow onions it sent to McDonald’s and other restaurant chains.

On Wednesday, the FDA said it had begun inspections of the Taylor Farms processing center in Colorado Springs and an “onion grower of interest” in Washington state. The name of the breeder was not provided.

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The FDA noted that more than 80 percent of people infected with E. coli interviewed by government investigators ate McDonald’s products containing fresh, chopped onions.

Agency officials said Wednesday that the current risk of the disease “is low because the onions have been recalled and should no longer be available.”

They noted that all reported cases occurred before Taylor Farms and McDonald’s recalled the onions from the market.

McDonald’s said last week that onions from its Colorado Springs plant had been distributed to about 900 restaurants, including some in transportation hubs such as airports.

The restaurant chain announced it will resume serving Quarter Pounders in hundreds of its restaurants after testing ruled out beef patties as the source.

The strain of E. coli responsible for the outbreak can cause dangerous diarrhea and lead to kidney failure and other serious problems.

According to the CDC, it causes approximately 74,000 infections per year in the US, resulting in over 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths per year.