McDonald's Excludes Beef Patties in E. coli Source Investigation
On Sunday, McDonald's determined that beef patties were not the source of the E. coli outbreak associated with Quarter Pounder hamburgers, a situation that has resulted in at least one death and nearly 75 illnesses.
TroibNews 
On Sunday, McDonald's stated that beef patties are not responsible for the E. coli outbreak associated with Quarter Pounder hamburgers, which has resulted in at least one death and nearly 75 illnesses.
"We remain very confident that any contaminated product related to this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain and is out of all McDonald's restaurants," declared the fast-food chain's Chief Supply Chain Officer, Cesar Pina, in a statement.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture reported that tests on all subsamples from various lots of McDonald's fresh and frozen beef patties showed no E. coli contamination. The department also indicated that its testing for beef has concluded and it does not expect additional samples.
McDonald's announced plans to restart the distribution of fresh Quarter Pounders, which are expected to be available in all locations within the next week.
Regulators were looking into whether the beef patties from McDonald's might be impacted.
E. coli bacteria can be destroyed in beef when cooked properly. Given that the McDonald's Quarter Pounder contains raw, slivered onions, stores affected by the outbreak will serve the burgers without these onions.
In response to the outbreak, U.S. fast-food chains have removed fresh onions from their menu items after the vegetable was identified as a likely source of E. coli.
Approximately one-fifth of McDonald’s U.S. restaurants, including locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, have temporarily pulled the Quarter Pounder from their menus.
Previous E. coli outbreaks have negatively impacted sales for major fast-food chains as customers choose to avoid the affected restaurants.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
"We remain very confident that any contaminated product related to this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain and is out of all McDonald's restaurants," declared the fast-food chain's Chief Supply Chain Officer, Cesar Pina, in a statement.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture reported that tests on all subsamples from various lots of McDonald's fresh and frozen beef patties showed no E. coli contamination. The department also indicated that its testing for beef has concluded and it does not expect additional samples.
McDonald's announced plans to restart the distribution of fresh Quarter Pounders, which are expected to be available in all locations within the next week.
Regulators were looking into whether the beef patties from McDonald's might be impacted.
E. coli bacteria can be destroyed in beef when cooked properly. Given that the McDonald's Quarter Pounder contains raw, slivered onions, stores affected by the outbreak will serve the burgers without these onions.
In response to the outbreak, U.S. fast-food chains have removed fresh onions from their menu items after the vegetable was identified as a likely source of E. coli.
Approximately one-fifth of McDonald’s U.S. restaurants, including locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, have temporarily pulled the Quarter Pounder from their menus.
Previous E. coli outbreaks have negatively impacted sales for major fast-food chains as customers choose to avoid the affected restaurants.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
