At least 104 people have been sickened in the United States after eating at a McDonald’s restaurant. The fast-food chain is facing an E. coli outbreak that has killed at least one person and was traced to onions from a supplier.
At least 34 of the sick had to be hospitalized for treatment. Four patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) as a result of the infection, which can lead to acute kidney failure and can be fatal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
The outbreak, which spread to 14 states and has killed one elderly person, is being investigated by authorities and is believed to have been linked to onions from supplier Taylor Farms, which were used in the so-called Quarter Pounder.
According to the FDA, about 99 percent of respondents said they had eaten at McDonald’s before. The fast-food chain said it would no longer use onion products from Taylor Farms.
Certain strains of E. coli bacteria can cause serious illness, including kidney failure. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, typical symptoms of a severe infection include severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhoea, and vomiting.
