The CDC says infections in several US states are connected to the Quarter Pounder burger!
A big marketing push by McDonald’s to revamp the Quarter Pounder in recent years hit a major wall this week with an E. coli outbreak tied to the sandwich. The fast food giant’s focus on the classic Quarter Pounder led to a 50% increase in sales recently.
So that underlines just how important the Quarter Pounder is to McDonald’s… and why it should want to address any food-safety concerns quickly.
Which bring us to this: McDonald’s stock took a significant tumble recently as the company said it would temporarily remove the Quarter Pounder from menus in numerous states across the nation.
What’s going on? Stick with Devastating Disasters and continue reading as we give you the latest details!
According to the CDC…
The CDC announced recently that multiple agencies are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s. They say there have been at least 49 people affected across 12 states, with 10 of those requiring hospitalization.
Unfortunately, there has even been a death. The CDC continued to say that the contaminated ingredient had yet to be identified.
Still, McDonald’s said an initial analysis found “a subset of illnesses” were tied to the slivered onions from a supplier that serves three of the fast-food giant’s distribution centers.
Due to this information, McDonald’s has stopped using sliced onions and Quarter Pounder patties in several states. They say that they’re working with suppliers to replenish what’s required for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, all other menu items, including other beef products like the Hamburger, Cheeseburger, McDouble, Big Mac, and the Double Cheeseburger are available and unaffected.
So, where EXACTLY has the Quarter Pounder been removed?
McDonald’s said in a statement that their Quarter Pounders have been pulled from restaurants across the following states:
-Colorado
-Kansas
-Utah
-Wyoming
They’ve also been removed in parts of:
-Idaho
-Iowa
-Missouri
-Montana
-Nebraska
-Nevada
-New Mexico
-Oklahoma
And what’s the low-down on E. coli?
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium generally found in the gut of warm-blooded organisms. Most strains of this bacteria aren’t detrimental but are part of the healthful bacterial flora in our gut.
Yet, some types can cause serious illness in humans. E. coli O157:H7 is an example of one of the more dangerous strains, producing a toxin called Shiga. It’s one of the most potent toxins and can cause an intestinal infection.
Some 265,000 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections occur yearly in the US. And approximately 36% of these are probably caused by E. coli O157:H7. A foodborne outbreak, like the one happening now, usually involves a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
Most individuals recover within 6 to 8 days, but it’s known to be life-threatening in infants and those with a weakened immune system. Some other types of E. coli can lead to pneumonia, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and meningitis.
Symptoms of E. coli
E. coli infects the intestine and causes symptoms ranging from low to severe. Some people have no noticeable symptoms but can spread the infection to others.
Symptoms commonly appear 3 to 4 days after being exposed to this bacteria. Nevertheless, they CAN occur as early as 24 hours or as late as 1 week later. They can include:
-Fatigue resulting from the loss of fluids and electrolytes and dehydration.
-Nausea and, in certain cases, vomiting.
-Abdominal pain or severe cramping, often beginning suddenly.
-Watery diarrhea a few hours after the pain starts
-Bright red bloody stools about a day later, which results from the toxin’s damage to the intestines.
-Fever, usually below 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about symptoms, identify the signs, and send your stool sample to a lab for analysis. This sample MUST be taken within 48 hours after the bloody diarrhea starts. Drinking lots of water is vital if you are infected with E. coli to avoid dehydration.
What are the complications?
Most individuals make a full recovery within a week. But, about 10% are at risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, a.k.a. HUS. It primarily affects young children and seniors. HUS is characterized by a breakup of red blood cells, otherwise known as hemolysis.
This can cause a low platelet count, anemia, and, ultimately, kidney failure. Decreased platelets also increase the risk of bleeding issues. Patients with clots can also develop central nervous system concerns that affect the spinal cord and brain.
This can lead to seizures, brain swelling, paralysis, and coma, and is fatal in 3 to 5% of cases. HUS begins typically about 5 to 8 days after the onset of diarrhea. It’s considered a medical emergency and requires hospital treatment.
What are YOUR thoughts on the matter? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below. And if you found this article helpful, we also recommend reading: Why Is Violence Against Older Americans Increasing?
