Quarter Pounder-E. Coli Latest; Fire Pits Propel ‘Flame Jets’: Recalls

The source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli food poisoning outbreak at McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has been identified, and some other fast-food chains have yanked onions from menus “out of an abundance of caution.”

In other food safety news, more than 500 kinds of waffles were recalled after routine testing revealed Listeria monocytogenes, Costco recalled some of its store-brand smoked salmon over similar concerns, and Coca-Cola is recalling sugary drinks that were sold as sugar-free.

Also among recalls is an alcohol-fueled fire pit that injured 19 people when it suddenly propelled “flame jets,” and hundreds of thousands of Honda vehicles as the automaker announces its second major recall in a month.

Sources for recalls and food-safety news in this roundup include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Patch and other news sources.

Quarter Pounder E. Coli Latest: More Chains Yank Onions

Food safety inspectors have identified Taylor Farms in Salinas, California, as the source of a deadly E. coli food poisoning outbreak linked to Quarter Pounder sandwiches at McDonald’s, the restaurant chain said Thursday.

One person has died in the E. coli outbreak, which has sickened 76 people in 13 states. Twenty-two people were sick enough to require hospitlization, the CDC said in n update Friday.

• Related: Are Quarter Pounders Safe To Eat Anywhere?

Several other chains, including Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut, have also stopped serving fresh onions on signature menu items in certain locations. A spokesperson for Yum Brands, which owns several fast-food chains, declined to say why, how many restaurants are affected or where they’re located, The New York Times reported.

Meanwhile, Taylor Farms recalled peeled whole and diced yellow onions produced at a Colorado facility for potential E. coli contamination. U.S. Foods, the wholesale giant that owns Taylor Farms, said the facility wasn’t a McDonald’s supplier, and that the recall didn’t include any onions sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants.

• Related: Are Foodborne Illnesses Increasing, Or Are Detection Methods Better?

Listeria Concerns Prompt Massive Waffle Recall

More than 500 kinds of frozen waffles have been recalled by TreeHouse Foods after routine product testing revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. TreeHouse expanded the recall after more testing at the Oak Brook, Illinois, facility.

The waffles were sold at Walmart, Target, Dollar General, Albertson's, Aldi, Foodhold, HEB, Kroger and Publix. A full list of the recalled products can be found on the TreeHouse Foods website.

• Related: Catch Up On BrucePak Listeria-Related Recall

With the expansion, the company is recalling all products made at the facility that are still within their shelf-life, including waffles and pancakes. Recalled products were distributed to all states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada.

Costco Recalls Smoked Salmon Over Listeria Concerns

Costco said earlier this month in a notice to members of the bulk warehouse club that it is recalling certain of its Kirkland-branded smoked salmon products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Produced by Acme Smoked Fish Corp., the packaged salmon was sold at Costco stores between Oct. 9-1, and has a lot number of 8512801270.

No illnesses have been reported. Customers who have the product on hand shouldn’t eat it and should return it to Costco for a full refund.

Fire Pit ‘Flame Jetting’ Injures 19, Is Potentially Deadly

About 89,500 Closen-brand fire pits have been recalled because they have a history of suddenly propel burning alcohol and causing serious and potentially deadly injuries to people sitting nearby, according to a recall notice on the CPSC website.

Alcohol flames can be invisible and lead to flame jetting when refilling the fire pit reservoir. In flame jetting, the fire flashes back to the alcohol container and suddenly propels burning alcohol out of the container and onto people nearby.

“Use of the recalled fire pits can lead to injury quickly and unexpectedly, causing burns in less than one second, that can be serious and deadly,” the CPSC said.

In 31 reported incidents of flame jetting, 19 people sustained burn injuries, two of them third-degree burns covering 40 percent of their bodies, the CPSC said. Additionally, at least six people required surgery, prolonged medical treatment, admission to burn treatment facilities or physical therapy or have experienced short-term disability, loss of function or permanent disfigurement.

People who bought the fire pits should dispose of them. The firm that bought the Colsen-branded fire pits has stopped selling them and “does not have the financial resources to offer a remedy to consumers,” according to the CPSC.

The products were sold online by Colsen Fire Pits, as well as by Amazon, Wayfair, Walmart, Sharper Image, FlipShop, Grommet, Meta and TikTok from January 2020 to July 2024. They cost between $40 and $90.

Honda Recalls 700,810 Vehicles For Fuel Leak Potential

Honda is recalling 700,810 vehicles, its second major recall this month, because of the potential for fuel leaks due to a cracked pump. Vehicles included in the recall include certain Accord, Civic and hybrid models.

Honda and the NHTSA said faulty production of high-pressure fuel pumps caused cracks that can worsen when the pump is functioning. This can cause fuel leaks and lead to an increased risk of injury.

Earlier this month, Honda recalled 1.7 million cars due to steering issue that may increase the likelihood of a crash. The vehicles covered in the recall were from model years 2022 to 2025 and include certain Acura Integras, Honda Civics, Honda CR-Vs and Honda HR-Vs.

The NHTSA said the recall stems from an improperly produced steering gearbox worm wheel, causing excessive internal friction in the vehicles. That friction can cause a feeling of "sticky feeling" when turning the steering wheel.

Coca-Cola Recalls Zero Sugar Drink With A Lot Of Sugar

Coca-Cola quietly recalled 13,152 cases of mislabeled cans of Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade that contain the full-sugar version instead, according to an FDA memo. Each case contains 12 cartoons of 12 cans of 12-ounce lemonade

The drinks, sold in retail locations in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky are marked with codes FEB1725CNA and FEB1725CNB.

The FDA classified the recall as Class II, which “involved a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences of use of the product.”

Coca-Cola voluntarily recalled the affected products in September. The mislabeled lemonade has been pulled from the market and “all recall activities in those markets are complete,” the company said in a statement, USA Today reported.

Customers who purchased the mislabeled lemonade are advised to discard or return it to their place of purchase for a refund.