The US Food and Drug Administration issued a statement on Friday regarding reports on new cases of the toxic “E. coli” bacteria from sandwiches provided by McDonald’s.
The US Food and Drug Administration announced that 75 people were infected with the “E. coli” bacteria as a result of eating McDonald’s sandwiches, resulting in one death and dozens more infected.
The company withdrew its Quarter sandwiches from the menu in 20 percent of its 14,000 restaurants in the US, while the company’s shares fell by two percent.
One death reported, dozens infected
A strong blow was dealt to McDonald’s chain in the US, after McDonald’s “Quarter Pounder” sandwiches made with beef caused the death of one person and the infection of dozens with E.coli, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on October 22 that the infection claimed the life of one person and infected 49 others, and caused 10 others to be hospitalized throughout the West and Midwest in the US.
The center said one of the infected people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome on Tuesday, a serious condition that can cause life-threatening kidney failure.
The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and public health officials in multiple states are investigating the cause of the O157:H7 outbreak.
E. coli O157:H7 infections can be fatal, especially in older people, whether or not they develop hemolytic uremic syndrome.
McDonald’s issues first response
The Axios website reported a McDonald’s spokesperson as saying that the company is working with health agencies to determine the source of the outbreak, which McDonald’s believes may be chopped onions from an unnamed supplier, adding that the cause may also be beef.
The spokesperson for the US Department of Health warned that if the issue is broader, there are likely to be more illnesses.
