McDonald’s Invests $100 Million to Recover from E. coli Outbreak Linked to Onions

November 16, 2024: McDonald’s is investing $100 million to help restore customer confidence and bring people back to its stores following an E. coli outbreak linked to onions on its Quarter Pounder hamburgers. The company announced that $65 million of the investment will go directly to assist the hardest-hit franchises.

The outbreak, which affected at least 104 people in several U.S. states, was traced to slivered onions on the Quarter Pounders. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the onions as the likely source, and Taylor Farms in California has recalled the onions potentially linked to the outbreak.

States reporting cases include Colorado (30), Montana (19), Nebraska (13), and New Mexico (10), with illnesses occurring between September 12 and October 21. Of those affected, 34 people were hospitalized, one person died in Colorado, and four developed a serious kidney disease complication.

McDonald’s efforts aim to address the impact on its reputation and ensure food safety moving forward.