An investigation into an E. coli outbreak in McDonalds has impacted several stores in many different states. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning because several people had become sick after eating a Quarter Pounder at McDonalds on Oct. 22. The theory at this time was that it was something about the beef used in the sandwich or the slivered onions; however it is unclear what exactly contained the E. coli.
Taylor Farm, the company, provides onions to McDonalds and several other fast food chains like Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC in the US, has issued a recall of their onions out of caution. Because of this and the temporary pause on selling Quarter Pounders by McDonalds, the CDC stated, “the risk (of E. coli) to the public is very low.”
Over 90 people have been sick because of this, with 27 hospitalized and one person having died, and that number is expected to rise according to CNN. Several people impacted by the E. coli outbreak have decided to sue McDonalds. That is not the only problem the fast-food giant is facing. Because of the outbreak, visits to McDonalds have noticeably dropped, as have their stock prices, causing concerns from stockholders and leaders in the company.
The company believes the worst is behind it but are trying to get costumers back by having new deals and lower prices, as well as a shift into advertising the food safety. The lowering prices may bring people back in, especially after the price hiking that happened over the summer which has outpaced inflation, according to MSNBC.
