Bacterial Breakout: US Launches Probe into McDonald’s Suppliers Amid Soaring Infection Fears
Infections increase, US inspects McDonald’s suppliers for bacterial contamination incident
Release time: 1730450551353 Source: South American Overseas Chinese News Network Comprehensive release time: 1730450551353
As of October 30, the E. coli infection incident in McDonald’s burgers in the United States has resulted in 27 hospitalizations and 90 infections. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is inspecting the onion supplier involved.
China Central Television reported that officials from relevant U.S. government agencies believe that onion slices used in a McDonald’s “Quarter Pounder” burger are likely to be a direct source of infection. The onion slices involved were supplied by the agricultural product company “Taylor Farms” and were produced at a factory in Colorado. After the incident, McDonald’s stopped purchasing onion slices from the company.
The Food and Drug Administration has begun inspections of the factory involved and is also inspecting an onion grower in Washington state whose name has not yet been released.
Xinhua News Agency reported that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the O157:H7 Escherichia coli type that caused the food safety accident is a highly pathogenic bacterium. People infected with it can range from fever, abdominal pain, and nausea to severe hemorrhagic symptoms. Symptoms such as diarrhea, edema, and even death due to renal failure and damage to multiple organs are particularly harmful to children under 5 years old.
Beijing’s Global Times reported that the incident caused a heavy blow to McDonald’s market value. According to reports from the US Consumer News and Business Channel, McDonald’s shares fell 7% before the market opened on October 23.
According to reports, this is not the first time McDonald’s has been involved in food safety incidents. In 2008, McDonald’s tomato ingredients were found to contain excessive amounts of Salmonella. However, McDonald’s was not the only one to “overturn” in this incident. Burger King, Wal-Mart and other well-known chain brands also urgently removed the problematic food from their shelves. In 2018, parasites were detected in McDonald’s vegetable salads, causing about 400 consumers in 15 states across the United States to become ill. McDonald’s had to urgently remove the problematic food from 3,000 stores. In 2022, 6 minors in Alabama, USA, were infected with E. coli after eating “Chicken McNuggets”, and 4 of them were hospitalized.
Editor in charge: Song Yu