McDonald’s shares fell after the CDC said an E. coli outbreak was linked to Quarter Pounders

McDonald’s Shares fell in extended trading Tuesday after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Escherichia coli outbreak Eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burger led to 10 people being hospitalized and one death.

The agency said 49 cases were reported in 10 states from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11, most of them in Colorado and Nebraska. The CDC added that “most” patients reported eating the McDonald’s Quarter Pounder.

One patient developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. An elderly person has died in Colorado.

McDonald’s shares fell about 7% in after-hours trading on Tuesday.

In a Tuesday statementMcDonald’s said it was taking “swift and decisive action” following the E. coli outbreak in some states.

The company said preliminary results of an ongoing investigation show that some illnesses may be linked to sliced ​​onions — or fresh onions cut into thin shapes — that are used in the Quarter Pounder and are sourced by a single supplier serving three distribution centers. McDonald’s has instructed all local restaurants to remove cut onions from their supplies and has temporarily halted distribution of this ingredient in the affected area.

McDonald’s said the Quarter Pounder hamburger will be temporarily unavailable in several Western states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, and parts of other states. She added that she is working with suppliers to renew components.

McDonald’s US President Joe Erlinger said in a video that the majority of states and menu items were not affected by the outbreak. He added that the company’s other beef products, including cheeseburgers, hamburgers, Big Macs, McDoubles and double cheeseburgers, were not affected.

“We are working quickly to get our full roster back to these states as soon as possible,” Erlinger said. “I hope these steps demonstrate McDonald’s commitment to food safety.”

The Quarter Pounder hamburger is a staple on the McDonald’s menu, generating billions of dollars each year. In 2018, McDonald’s launched fresh beef Quarter Pounders in most of its stores in the United States.

The CDC said the number of people affected by the outbreak is “likely much higher” than has been reported so far. The agency said that’s because many people recover from E. coli infections without getting tested or receiving medical care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added that it usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a patient is part of an outbreak.

Escherichia coli refers to a group of bacteria found in the intestines of almost all people and animals. But some strains of bacteria can cause mild to severe illness if a person eats contaminated food or drinks contaminated water.

Symptoms, including stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, usually begin three to four days after the bacteria is swallowed, according to the CDC. Most people recover without treatment after five to seven days.

Several previous cases of E. coli have been reported at McDonald’s restaurants.

In 2022, at least six children developed symptoms consistent with E. coli poisoning after eating McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets Happy Meals in Ashland, Alabama. Four of the six children were hospitalized after experiencing severe side effects.