McDonald’s has made the decision to remove Quarter Pounders from approximately one-fifth of its locations in the United States due to a recent E. Coli outbreak that has affected customers in multiple states. The outbreak has resulted in one death and 49 illnesses across 10 states in the Midwest and West regions.
The fast-food chain has identified slivered onions as the likely culprit behind the outbreak and has stopped sourcing these onions from a single supplier. While McDonald’s has not cut ties with any beef suppliers, there is still uncertainty about whether contaminated ground meat played a role in the illnesses.
As a precautionary measure, McDonald’s has removed Quarter Pounders from around 2,700 locations in 12 states. This decision follows alerts from the FDA and CDC regarding illnesses linked to the food served at McDonald’s. However, some experts have raised concerns about the delayed response in informing the public about the outbreak.
Despite the ongoing investigation, McDonald’s franchisees are already feeling the impact of the outbreak on their businesses. There are fears of a decline in customer traffic, which could worsen the overall slowdown in sales that the company has been experiencing. This concern has led to a drop in McDonald’s shares by more than 5%.
Franchise operators are concerned that customers will avoid their restaurants due to the outbreak, which could have a significant financial impact. However, a McDonald’s spokesperson has not commented on whether foot traffic has been affected by the situation.
With over two million Quarter Pounders sold daily, franchisees are hoping that the outbreak is contained to prevent further illnesses. McDonald’s is taking a cautious approach by removing the affected product from its menus to ensure customer safety.
Overall, the impact of the E. Coli outbreak on McDonald’s locations and customers is significant, and the company is working to address the situation and restore confidence in its food safety practices.
