On October 21, doctors found a random outbreak of disease, and all the patients had one thing in common, their love for McDonalds. Specifically linked to their famous Quarter-Pounders, 75 people across 13 different states have been impacted, simply by a burger.
Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming; portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma have temporarily stopped using their current supply of both beef patties and sliced onions because they are unsure of the specific ingredient making people sick. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that slivered onions on the Quarter Pounders were the likely source of the E. coli, a relief for Tyson’s, but a tragedy for Taylor Farms, McDonalds’ onion supplier.
Tysons had been battling with McDonald’s’ CEO, Chris Kempczinski, because McDonald’s planned to sue Tysons along with three other large meat suppliers, such as JBS, Cargill and National Beef Packing for allegedly raising the meat prices in 2015. In 2022, JBS USA agreed to pay $52.5 million to settle price-fixing allegations from grocery stores and wholesalers.
According to the complaint from McDonalds, the companies held frequent meetings and conferences where executives and key employees exchanged sensitive information about prices.
With McDonalds employees and executives currently distracted with an E. Coli outbreak, Tysons and other meat companies are somewhat off the hook but should be in fear because the meat hasn’t been proven entirely healthy yet. Even if suspicions remain on the yellow onions, it still could be in any of the four companies’ beef patties.
The Colorado farm began recalling all yellow onions on October 25, which has become a challenge due to the large number of businesses that they supply to. 900 businesses are rallying together against Taylor Farms stating their plan to “stop sourcing onions from the [Taylor Farms] facility indefinitely.”
So far, 22 people have been hospitalized, two have developed serious kidney infections and another died. Although it takes several weeks to account for all the people who could’ve possibly gotten sick due to the Quarter-Pounder, the numbers keep growing.
McDonald’s now demands all-new beef patties from suppliers before they have been detected for E. Coli and is no longer accepting yellow onions from Taylor’s Farm.
As of November 16, McDonalds is investing $100 million to bring customers back to stores. $65 million will go directly to the companies most impacted by this outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration has said that “there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak at McDonald’s restaurants,” but the outbreak has hurt McDonald’s business.
Some stores have completely removed the Quarter-pounder from their menus, and guests are feeling better about purchasing and consuming their McDonalds food. The enterprise has now found an alternate supplier, who is remaining anonymous at this time.
