McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger (pictured here) said Wednesday that he is ‘very confident’ customers can still go to McDonald’s amid an E coli outbreak
McDonald’s bosses are begging Americans to keep eating from its restaurants amid a ‘severe’ outbreak of E Coli linked to its Quarter Pounder hamburger.
Joe Erlinger, the fast food giant’s US President, said the chain ‘took swift action’ to remove the burger from affected states.
The Quarter Pounder has been temporarily axed in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as in certain areas of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
Erlinger added that investigators had highlighted two items that may have been the source of contamination: sliced onions and beef patties used specifically in the Quarter Pounder, which is bought by 100,000 Americans across the US every day.
Those ingredients are not used on any other menu items.
Erlinger told TODAY: ‘We are very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics.
‘This was swift and decisive action by us, and it is the quarter pounder and two ingredients on that quarter pounder that are under investigation by the CDC.
‘So I want to say to our consumers that you can confidently go to McDonald’s today.’
The CDC announced Tuesday that 49 people in 10 states became ill by E coli after eating at McDonald’s.
One ‘older’ man in Colorado has died, and a child has been hospitalized with severe kidney damage linked to the infection.
The CDC announced that 49 people in 10 states have been sickened with E coli after eating at McDonald’s. Most ate a Quarter Pounder (pictured here)
The CDC said that 10 patients total have been hospitalized from the condition, which affects over 110,000 Americans per year and kills up to one in five of those.
However, officials said that actual number of people sickened is ‘likely much higher’ than the reported cases, as many patients recover without undergoing testing or treatment.
Mr Erlinger said that the company is working closely with its supplier and the CDC.
He said: ‘Food safety is our top priority at McDonald’s, it’s the top priority in this building where I am, at the McDonald’s headquarters. It’s a top priority in our nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. It’s the top priority for our suppliers as well.
‘This is something that we talk about as being everyone’s business. And so while the investigation continues, and we’ll continue to get into the details of those investigations, I don’t think that’s what’s important.
‘What’s important today is that we’ve taken the action to protect the American public and promote public health.’
Erlinger noted that since disease onset fell between September 27 and October 11, any contaminated product has ‘very likely worked itself through the supply chain already.’
‘But certainly we will be working with the CDC and cooperating with them on the investigation, and we’ll take in more data and let the science continue to lead our actions,’ he added.
McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña said initial findings from the CDC investigation indicate the outbreak may be linked to onions sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.
He said: ‘As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.’
He added: ‘We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do. Impacted restaurants are receiving a stock recovery notice today and should reach out to their field supply chain manager or distribution center with any questions.’
He assured buyers all other menu items were unaffected and available.
Symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli include severe diarrhea and vomiting
E coli are bacteria typically found in the intestines of animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and deer.
While most are harmless, some can cause a host of gastrointestinal symptoms, including stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.
The bacteria can be found in food and water contaminated by feces from infected animals.
E coli infection sickens about 95,000 Americans per year and kills around 17 to 20 percent.
Young children and elderly adults are at the greatest risk of dying from E coli due to having naturally weakened immune systems.
Symptoms include diarrhea, a fever above 102 F, vomiting, and signs of dehydration like not peeing or dry mouth, the CDC said.
The patients in the current outbreak were infected with strain O157:H7, the most common strain in humans that has been shown to cause severe intestinal infections.
The CDC said: ‘If you have severe symptoms of E. coli infection after eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s, seek health care and tell your provider about what you ate.