DENVER (KDVR) -- The deadly E. coli outbreak linked back to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers appears contained and the burgers are heading back to stores. However, the investigation into the outbreak is still far from over.
After reports of E. coli around Oct. 10, the Centers for Disease Control recorded that the outbreak has so far made its way through 13 states with 75 cases that hospitalized 22 people and killed one person.
McDonald's was later linked to the outbreak, and within the span of a week, the hamburger was taken off many McDonald's menus across states, Colorado residents filed a lawsuit against the chain food restaurant and an investigation found one ingredient in the burger to be the apparent source of the outbreak.
Here is everything you need to know about the quickly changing outbreak:
1. E. coli outbreak appears to be contained
According to McDonald's spokespeople, the outbreak appears to be contained. The company said that the hamburger was taken off the menu during the outbreak and localized to one ingredient in the supply chain. The company said the contaminated product was removed from the supply chain and it will no longer be using products from that distributor.
2. Likely source came from Colorado onions
The Colorado Department of Agriculture analyzed dozens of subsamples of the patties and said they were all negative for E. coli.
McDonald’s spokespeople said that onions from Taylor Farms were the likely source of the E. coli outbreak, and they came from a processing facility in Colorado Springs. The company said that many other brands have stopped selling the farms' onions and that McDonald's will no longer source onions from Taylor Farms.
3. Only select restaurants were affected
The slivered onions from Taylor Farms were only sold at McDonald's restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and portions of other states and surrounding areas. McDonald's said that only select restaurants were linked to illnesses, but E. coli appears to be all over the place because one of the restaurants was at an airport.
The onions from Taylor Farms were also distributed by U.S. Foods, a major wholesaler to restaurants across the country. While U.S. Foods didn't distribute to McDonald's, a spokesperson said its distribution of onions was impacted by a recall from Taylor Foods for peeled whole and diced yellow onions for potential E. coli contamination.
4. Quarter Pounder heading back to stores
Because the beef patties weren't linked to the outbreak, the hamburgers are heading back on the menu. The company said it will be getting a fresh batch of patties from the same meat vendor it was using before the outbreak.
A company spokesperson said the Quarter Pounders should be back on the menu on a rolling basis during this week.
The hamburgers will be served without slivered onions in the following states: Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah.
5. Next steps in the outbreak investigation
The hamburgers are going back in stores and testing on the patties has concluded, but in a press release, McDonald's said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still investigating Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility
In the meantime, McDonald's said the CDC is still working to confirm which people were part of the outbreak, and it could take three to four weeks to confirm.
McDonald's also said that there may be more cases linked to the chain because at this time, public health interviews will only note people who visited McDonald's and not other facilities where the onions were distributed.
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