Federal officials have reported an increase in cases of E. coli poisoning linked to McDonald's, with 90 people across 13 states falling ill in the outbreak. The number of hospitalizations has risen to 27, with one death connected to the outbreak. The likely source of the E. coli is raw, slivered onions on McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers. These onions were traced back to a single supplier, California-based Taylor Farms, which has since recalled the yellow onions sent to McDonald's and other restaurant chains.
The FDA has initiated inspections at Taylor Farm's processing center in Colorado Springs and an 'onion grower of interest' in Washington state. Over 80% of those affected reported consuming McDonald's items containing fresh, slivered onions. McDonald's confirmed that onions from the Colorado Springs facility were distributed to around 900 of its restaurants, including some in transportation hubs like airports.
