A deadly E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions served at McDonald’s has been officially declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reported that 104 people in 14 states were infected, with 27 hospitalizations and one death attributed to the outbreak.
The outbreak began on October 22, with fresh slivered onions from a supplier being identified as the likely source of the contamination. McDonald’s temporarily removed Quarter Pounder hamburgers from some locations but has since brought them back.
Although the outbreak is officially over, McDonald’s is still experiencing sales fallout. U.S. restaurant traffic was down 6.6% on November 18 compared to last year, with steeper declines in 10 states affected by the outbreak. The company plans to invest $100 million in marketing and targeted financial assistance for affected franchisees.
In an internal memo, McDonald’s leaders vowed to regain customers’ trust and reignite brand affinity. The company has also brought back its popular McRib and will roll out a new McValue menu in January. Shares of McDonald’s have fallen 7% since the outbreak was linked to the chain’s Quarter Pounders.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/03/cdc-says-mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-is-over-.html