In a sweeping response to a deadly E. coli outbreak, U.S. fast-food giants McDonald’s, Burger King, and others have yanked fresh onions from their menus after a Colorado McDonald’s location was linked to a wave of E. coli cases, leaving 49 sick and one dead. The culprit? Yellow onions supplied by Taylor Farms, now under investigation by the FDA and USDA.
The recall has forced McDonald’s to pull Quarter Pounders—topped with raw onions—from nearly 20% of its U.S. restaurants across multiple states, including Colorado, Kansas, and Nevada. Other big players, including Burger King, KFC, and Taco Bell, have preemptively removed onions “out of an abundance of caution,” fearing a wider outbreak. Fast-food customers are rattled, with some steering clear of McDonald’s entirely.
While Taylor Farms remains at the center of scrutiny, regulators are also examining potential risks in McDonald’s beef patties, though E. coli typically dies when beef is cooked properly. Still, the impact on McDonald’s brand could be severe, analysts warn, recalling the lasting damage from past outbreaks at Chipotle and Jack in the Box.
