45 votes

E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders

27 comments

  1. moocow1452
    Link
    Had one on Monday, but I'm in Michigan. Will update if anything changes, but so far, feeling fine, outside of a generalized regret I usually have after eating McDonald's.

    Had one on Monday, but I'm in Michigan. Will update if anything changes, but so far, feeling fine, outside of a generalized regret I usually have after eating McDonald's.

    10 votes
  2. [4]
    freestylesno
    Link
    Jeez I just had my first quarter pounder in quite a few years yesterday. Not the most exciting news. That being said the quarter pounder is a great sandwich. Thought about getting the deluxe but...

    Jeez I just had my first quarter pounder in quite a few years yesterday. Not the most exciting news.

    That being said the quarter pounder is a great sandwich. Thought about getting the deluxe but don't like tomatoes. Adding lettuce and basically a whopper by McDonald's sounds good.

    I hope I don't get sick

    8 votes
    1. [3]
      mayonuki
      Link Parent
      I just got a deluxe for the first time and I have to say it was disappointing. It lost all the unique taste of a McDonald’s quarter pounder. I don’t know why but quarter pounders taste so much...

      I just got a deluxe for the first time and I have to say it was disappointing. It lost all the unique taste of a McDonald’s quarter pounder. I don’t know why but quarter pounders taste so much better to me than McDoubles, especially when they are fresh and hot. But the deluxe quarter pounder tasted like a very generic fast food burger. It had way too much mayo instead of the strong pickle and ketchup flavor. I do generally prefer sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, et al, but can’t recommend this one.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        Markpelly
        Link Parent
        I worked at McDonald's for quite a few years and my favorite menu item was the Big n Tasty burger. It appears to be the same as the Deluxe but replace the mustard with mayo. I'd suggest asking for...

        I worked at McDonald's for quite a few years and my favorite menu item was the Big n Tasty burger. It appears to be the same as the Deluxe but replace the mustard with mayo. I'd suggest asking for this modification if none of you have tried a Big n Tasty.

        I used to make all sorts of crazy food with ingredients in the kitchen. I actually had created some different chicken wraps before they came out on the menu. You can ask for as many modifications of menu items as you want, but adding certain ingredients can be an upcharge. Usually certain veggies and meats are extra.

        4 votes
        1. mayonuki
          Link Parent
          When I was growing up the big and tasty had mayonnaise, no mustard as far as I can remember (I really love mustard), and definitely no cheese.

          When I was growing up the big and tasty had mayonnaise, no mustard as far as I can remember (I really love mustard), and definitely no cheese.

          2 votes
  3. moocow1452
    Link
    Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are pulling onions from their menus as well in affected areas out of an abundance of caution....

    Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are pulling onions from their menus as well in affected areas out of an abundance of caution.

    https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/10/taco-bell-kfc-pizza-hut-burger-king-pull-onions-amid-mcdonalds-outbreak/

    Also, we should probably link the main topic to the top of the page rather than the "what you should do" section.

    7 votes
  4. moocow1452
    Link
    From the CDC: Fast Facts Cases: 75 (26 new) Hospitalizations: 22 (12 new) Deaths: 1 (0 new) States: 13 (3 new) New states include Washington, Oregon, and Michigan. Symptoms usually present within...

    From the CDC:

    New as of 10/25: More illnesses have been reported and everyone interviewed continues to report eating at McDonald’s before their illness started. The most recent illness started on October 10. Taylor Farms has initiated a voluntary recall of some onions sent to food service operators. Due to the product actions taken by both companies, CDC believes the risk to the public is very low.

    Fast Facts

    • Cases: 75 (26 new)
    • Hospitalizations: 22 (12 new)
    • Deaths: 1 (0 new)
    • States: 13 (3 new)

    New states include Washington, Oregon, and Michigan. Symptoms usually present within 3-4 days, so keep that in mind if you think you may be at risk.

    4 votes
  5. 0x29A
    Link
    You know what, I realize now I had onions from Hardees today. Hopefully not the same supplier... I am not in an affected state (yet)

    You know what, I realize now I had onions from Hardees today. Hopefully not the same supplier... I am not in an affected state (yet)

    1 vote
  6. moocow1452
    Link
    Cases: 90 (15 new) Hospitalizations: 27 (5 new) Deaths: 1 (0 new) States: 13 (0 new)

    New as of 10/30: Fresh, slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders and other menu items from McDonald’s are the likely source of this outbreak. More illnesses have been reported, but they are from before McDonald’s and Taylor Farms took action to remove onions from food service locations. Due to the product actions taken by both companies, CDC believes the risk to the public is very low.

    Cases: 90 (15 new)
    Hospitalizations: 27 (5 new)
    Deaths: 1 (0 new)
    States: 13 (0 new)

    1 vote
  7. [12]
    Oxalis
    Link
    On a tangent, the fast food chain A&W released a "Third-of-a-Pound Burger" in the 1980s to compete with the quarter pounder. It was cheaper, it did better on taste tests, and had full ad support...

    On a tangent, the fast food chain A&W released a "Third-of-a-Pound Burger" in the 1980s to compete with the quarter pounder. It was cheaper, it did better on taste tests, and had full ad support nationally but still failed due to Americans not understanding fractions.

    Misunderstanding the value of one-third, customers believed they were being overcharged. Why, they asked the researchers, should they pay the same amount for a third of a pound of meat as they did for a quarter-pound of meat at McDonald’s. The “4” in “¼,” larger than the “3” in “⅓,” led them astray.

    https://www.snopes.com/news/2022/06/17/third-pound-burger-fractions/

    31 votes
    1. [3]
      moocow1452
      Link Parent
      I wonder if they could have gone with a five ounce burger. Has connotations with steak, which is an upsell for a fast food burger. Five stars is top marks, it requires all five fingers to eat, and...
      • Exemplary

      I wonder if they could have gone with a five ounce burger. Has connotations with steak, which is an upsell for a fast food burger. Five stars is top marks, it requires all five fingers to eat, and 5 is more than 4.

      36 votes
      1. [2]
        vektor
        Link Parent
        You work in marketing, right?

        You work in marketing, right?

        19 votes
        1. moocow1452
          Link Parent
          I care too much about manipulating or misdirecting people to make decisions that benefit me to really make a career out of it, but I’m flattered nonetheless.

          I care too much about manipulating or misdirecting people to make decisions that benefit me to really make a career out of it, but I’m flattered nonetheless.

          21 votes
    2. [5]
      h6nry
      Link Parent
      I am always astonished by that story, because I don't know any other country using as many fractions as the US of A in their measuring systems: That's 5/7 of an inch, give me 1/3 cup of oil, and...

      I am always astonished by that story, because I don't know any other country using as many fractions as the US of A in their measuring systems: That's 5/7 of an inch, give me 1/3 cup of oil, and weigh in 2 and 5/16 pounds of sand.

      Does anyone know how US americans cope with decimals? As a metric guy I find them more intuitive, but as I said, fractions besides 1/2 and 1/4 don't play a significant role in my everyday life...

      15 votes
      1. DrStone
        Link Parent
        Decimals like 0.5, 0.25, 0.33 are petty easy because they map to simple fractions that humans are good at estimating (half, third, quarter). If you wanted 0.57 units of something, you’ll still be...

        Decimals like 0.5, 0.25, 0.33 are petty easy because they map to simple fractions that humans are good at estimating (half, third, quarter). If you wanted 0.57 units of something, you’ll still be estimating it as “a bit more than a half a unit”. For precision, you’ll be using a scale or a ruler anyway and at that point it really doesn’t matter.

        13 votes
      2. [2]
        tanglisha
        Link Parent
        I think most folks categorize them as different numbers. I've mostly seen x/8 as tool/nail sizing. For cooking you use the right scoop. If you're doubling, just do that twice. Everything else can...

        I think most folks categorize them as different numbers. I've mostly seen x/8 as tool/nail sizing. For cooking you use the right scoop. If you're doubling, just do that twice.

        Everything else can be googled.

        7 votes
        1. elight
          Link Parent
          Talking to my veterinarians staff, omits as though they can't compute that 3/4 of 25mg is 18.75. When I ordered 18.75 mg tablets instead of 25mg they didn't approve the prescription. The script...

          Talking to my veterinarians staff, omits as though they can't compute that 3/4 of 25mg is 18.75. When I ordered 18.75 mg tablets instead of 25mg they didn't approve the prescription. The script was for 3/4 of 25 so....

          Yet we wonder why half of the country still wants to elect a convicted felon and fascist.

          16 votes
      3. updawg
        Link Parent
        It's not that difficult. You need a quarter cup of something, you grab the quarter cup measuring cup, just like how you would grab the 50 mL cup if something called for 50 mL. If something is 27...

        It's not that difficult. You need a quarter cup of something, you grab the quarter cup measuring cup, just like how you would grab the 50 mL cup if something called for 50 mL. If something is 27 9/16 inches, you just measure 27 9/16 inches, just like how you would measure 70 cm (pretty convenient that I randomly chose 70.009 cm). Sure, multiplying or dividing is harder, but we have calculators in our pockets. The difference is trivial.

        3 votes
    3. gary
      Link Parent
      Disappointing that Snopes felt the need to link a bunch of "sources" that all report back the same thing, when they already had a source that was the primary source for all the rewrites from...

      Disappointing that Snopes felt the need to link a bunch of "sources" that all report back the same thing, when they already had a source that was the primary source for all the rewrites from Gizmodo/CBC/NYTimes.

      The original source of that story is from the owner, Alfred Taubman, who hired a market research firm. He details this in his book Threshold Resistance, and Snopes does link to that, but then Snopes links to 4 other websites that are just rehashes of the original 2 paragraphs.

      In the age of the Internet, journalists need to be careful not to assume that a source is worthy because it was rewritten multiple times. Sites like rewriting existing articles because they don't have to pay for research, but it can become a game of telephone.

      13 votes
    4. [2]
      Fiachra
      Link Parent
      Should have called it the Quarter Plus. Quarter pound plus a little more.

      Should have called it the Quarter Plus. Quarter pound plus a little more.

      6 votes
      1. tomorrow-never-knows
        Link Parent
        Or stick a BK-style 'XL' on the end. Either way you're not tied to an exact size - could make it a 7/24 pound pattie and rake in those long term savings.

        Or stick a BK-style 'XL' on the end. Either way you're not tied to an exact size - could make it a 7/24 pound pattie and rake in those long term savings.

        2 votes
  8. [5]
    BeanBurrito
    Link
    Glad I don't eat meat.

    Glad I don't eat meat.

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      DrStone
      Link Parent
      E. coli commonly contaminates vegetables too. Even in this case, they’re investigating at the slivered onions as a possible source. E. coli for everyone!

      E. coli commonly contaminates vegetables too. Even in this case, they’re investigating at the slivered onions as a possible source. E. coli for everyone!

      30 votes
      1. TheWhetherMan
        Link Parent
        Yep. Romaine lettuce is a common candidate for E Coli outbreaks

        Yep. Romaine lettuce is a common candidate for E Coli outbreaks

        23 votes
    2. [2]
      Tigress
      Link Parent
      They suspect the ecoli was on the onions :P.

      They suspect the ecoli was on the onions :P.

      6 votes
      1. BeanBurrito
        Link Parent
        Vegetables only get ecoli by being contaminated from runoff from livestock facilities.

        Vegetables only get ecoli by being contaminated from runoff from livestock facilities.

        1 vote