Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC and Others Pull Onions After McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak
Multiple Restaurant Chains Remove Onions from Menus Following Reports of E. coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders
Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut have all pulled onions from a portion of their restaurants following reports of a “severe” E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
Burger King’s Response
In a statement sent to TODAY.com, a Burger King spokesperson said, “We have reviewed our restaurant supply given recent announcements. There is no crossover with McDonald’s for the vast majority of our onion facilities.”
However, the spokesperson added, “About 5% of our restaurants do receive onions distributed from the Taylor Farms Colorado facility.”
Burger King stated that its restaurant “only uses whole, fresh onions” and that employees cut, peel, wash, and slice them daily. “Despite no contact from health authorities and no indications of illness, we proactively asked our 5% of restaurants who received whole onions distributed by this facility to dispose of them immediately two days ago and we are in the process of restocking them from other facilities,” the statement concluded.
Other Restaurant Chains’ Actions
A Yum! Brands spokesperson also confirmed in a statement to TODAY.com that onions were removed from some of its Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC locations.
“As we continue to monitor the recently reported E. coli outbreak, and out of an abundance of caution, we have proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue following supplier and regulatory guidance to ensure the ongoing safety and quality of our food.”
The Investigation
The E. coli outbreak was first reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 23, when it issued a food safety alert on its website. The CDC announced that there were 49 cases and 10 hospitalizations due to the outbreak.
The CDC is working to determine which food ingredient caused the contamination, and McDonald’s has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in certain states. Supplier U.S. Foods announced a recall notification for yellow jumbo peeled, diced, and whole peeled onions “due to potential E. coli contamination.”
Conclusion
The E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has led to the removal of onions from multiple restaurant chains, including Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut. The investigation is ongoing, but it is clear that the safety and quality of food are the top priority for these companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
* What is the E. coli outbreak linked to?
+ The E. coli outbreak is linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
* How many cases have been reported?
+ The CDC has reported 49 cases and 10 hospitalizations due to the outbreak.
* Which restaurants have removed onions from their menus?
+ Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut have removed onions from their menus.
* What is being done to address the outbreak?
+ The CDC is investigating the source of the contamination, and McDonald’s has stopped using fresh slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties in certain states.
