Longmont, Colorado: Several major U.S. fast-food chains, including Burger King and Yum Brands, began removing fresh onions from their menu items on Thursday after a suspected E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s, which has sickened 49 people and resulted in one fatality.
Restaurant Brands International, Burger King’s parent company, and Yum Brands, the owner of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, confirmed they would eliminate fresh onions from their offerings as a precautionary measure. Approximately 5% of Burger King locations have already done so, according to a company spokesperson.
McDonald’s identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of the sliced onions in question and has since pulled them from its menus. In a recall memo released by US Foods, one of the country’s largest food service suppliers, batches of yellow onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility were recalled. Taylor Farms has yet to comment publicly on the recall.
Although about 5% of Burger King locations receive onion supplies from Taylor Farms, Burger King has not been contacted by health authorities nor has it reported any illnesses. “Out of an abundance of caution,” Yum Brands also decided to remove onions from its menu items.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed Taylor Farms as the supplier for the affected McDonald’s locations, noting that the company had initiated a voluntary recall of yellow onions. “Yellow onions were sold to additional food service customers. Customers who received recalled onions have been directly notified of the recall,” an FDA spokesperson stated.
Food distributors, including US Foods and Sysco Corp, have been informing their clients of the recall. Sysco, for instance, provided instructions to its sites and clients regarding the supplier-initiated recall of yellow onions.
The FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are collaborating with federal and state partners to determine if onions are indeed the source of the E. coli outbreak. The USDA also mentioned on Wednesday that fresh onions are the likely cause.
Historically, E. coli outbreaks have severely impacted sales for major fast-food chains. While health officials continue to investigate whether McDonald’s beef patties are involved, they noted that E. coli in beef is neutralized when cooked thoroughly. However, since McDonald’s Quarter Pounder is served with raw, slivered onions, this item has been particularly affected. McDonald’s has now removed the Quarter Pounder from roughly 20% of its U.S. locations, including several states such as Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming.
“We’ve been told by corporate to not use any onions going forward for the foreseeable future,” said Maria Gonzales, a Burger King manager in Longmont, Colorado. “They’re off our menu.”
McDonald’s responded swiftly, aiming to contain the outbreak while reassuring customers of its safety efforts. The quick response could be crucial, as previous food safety issues, such as the 2015 outbreak at Chipotle and the 1993 incident at Jack in the Box, led to prolonged declines in customer traffic and sales.
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Analysts are already assessing potential fallout. David Tarantino from Baird Equity Research downgraded McDonald’s stock to “neutral,” citing concerns that news of the outbreak could significantly affect consumer sentiment and U.S. comparable-store sales.
Despite the outbreak, customers continue to frequent McDonald’s. In Colorado, some are avoiding the hamburgers but not the restaurant itself. Charity Atkinson, a patron at a McDonald’s parking lot in Longmont, noted that while she is skipping burgers for now, she hopes for swift improvements. “My mom loves the Quarter Pounders with cheese,” she remarked. “Hopefully they’ll have better sanitary protections soon.”
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Some diners are opting for alternative fast-food chains. Monica and Jesus Martinez, for instance, were seen enjoying burgers and fries at Burger King, saying the McDonald’s outbreak influenced their choice. “I’m worried! I like the Quarter Pounder but I’m really worried,” Monica Martinez said. “It will definitely influence my choices of where we eat going forward.”
The E. coli outbreak was initially reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in late September. The USDA confirmed on Wednesday that a state partner is also conducting tests on beef samples for signs of E. coli.
