CDC Declares End of E. Coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald's

(Reuters) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Tuesday that the E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) Quarter Pounder hamburgers is over and the investigation has concluded.

As of December 3, the CDC reported that 104 individuals have fallen ill, with 34 hospitalized due to the outbreak caused by the E. coli O157:H7 strain, which can lead to "very serious disease."

The outbreak was initially reported on October 22, with one reported death linked to the infection caused by slivered onions served on the burgers.

Onions were supplied by Taylor Farms, affecting three distribution centers, and several batches of yellow onions produced in a Colorado facility have already been recalled.

Infections were reported in 14 states: Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, North Carolina, and Michigan.

McDonald's has resumed sales of the Quarter Pounder burgers after temporarily removing the item from a fifth of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants that were affected.

The chain has also reintroduced slivered onions from a different supplier back into their full menu.