Yummy! Brands and Burger King recall onions after E. coli outbreak

Yummy! Brands, Burger King and other food companies have responded by recalling onions from certain restaurants E. coli is linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.

Yummy! Brands said it proactively removed fresh onions from select Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC stores out of an abundance of caution.

Additionally, Taylor Farms has been linked to onions supplied to affected McDonald’s locations. The company has removed yellow onions from its Colorado production facility. US Foods – which does not distribute products to McDonald’s stores but instead receives onions manufactured by Taylor Farms – has also recalled onion products manufactured by Taylor Farms.

Meanwhile, Burger King is proactively removing onions from 5 percent of its U.S. restaurants after discovering that their onions came from the Taylor Farms plant in Colorado. The chain asked those units on Tuesday to immediately remove the onions. The brand is currently in the process of replenishing its onion stocks from other farms.

An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has caused one death and at least 49 illnesses in 10 states, with most cases reported in Colorado and Nebraska. The CDC is conducting investigations focusing on possible contamination of the onion slivers used in the burgers. In response, McDonald’s temporarily removed Quarter Pounder from menus in affected areas and stopped using its supplier’s suspect onions.

The company is working with the CDC and local health authorities to resolve the issue and prevent further incidents. The CDC has issued a public health alert and expects there may be more unreported cases.

E. coli is a harmful bacteria that, in extreme cases, can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and even kidney failure. Customers are advised to seek medical attention if symptoms occur after consuming Quarter Pounders during the outbreak. Investigations are currently underway to determine the full extent of the contamination.