E. Coli Linked To McDonald’s Quarter Pounders: What To Know In RI

RHODE ISLAND — A deadly E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders sold in a dozen states is raising questions about whether it’s safe to eat the sandwiches served in Rhode Island franchises.

The short answer is yes, the company says. Quarter Pounders are still on the menu in Rhode Island and are safe to eat, according to McDonald’s.

Here are five things Rhode Island residents need to know:

1 Dead, 49 Sickened In 10 States

One person has died in the 10-state outbreak and 49 have been sickened, 10 of them requiring hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 10 states reporting illnesses are Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Most of the illnesses occurred in Colorado (26) and Nebraska (nine).

What Is McDonald’s Doing?

McDonald’s said it has removed Quarter Pounders from the menu in those states, and also from some franchises in Idaho, Nevada and New Mexico “out of an abundance of caution.” No illnesses have been reported in those states, but restaurants received the products linked to the outbreak, McDonald's North America Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña said in a statement.

“We take food safety extremely seriously, and it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

What Specifically Caused Illnesses?

Most people who got sick said they had just eaten a Quarter Pounder. McDonald’s said its investigators have traced the E. coli infections to a specific ingredient — slivered onions — sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.

Are Other Burgers OK To Eat?

McDonald’s said all other menu items, including other hamburgers and cheeseburgers, are safe to eat and don’t use the identified slivered onions.

Quarter Pounders will eventually return to McDonald’s menus in the 12 states but will remain paused while an investigation in cooperation with the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service and other public health officials continues.

How Long Before People Get Sick?

E. coli symptoms typically appear three or four days after exposure to the bacteria, but people can become ill within a day or as late as 10 days after exposure. Symptoms can last for a week to 10 days.

Most people recover from E. coli infections on their own within five to seven days. The CDC advises calling a health care provider for serious symptoms such as a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit; diarrhea that persists for more than three days and bloody diarrhea; and signs of dehydration, including infrequent urination, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up.