The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has officially ruled an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwiches has ended.
The outbreak was connected to the sliced onions used on the iconic burgers, which were sourced by a single distributor, Taylor Farms.
The outbreak resulted in 104 people falling ill in 14 states, and a third of them were hospitalized from their sickness. One person also died from the outbreak, an 88-year-old man in Colorado.
However, the CDC has said that the total number of illnesses caused by the outbreak was much likely higher.
The outbreak was first announced on Oct. 22, weeks after the illnesses started on Sept. 12. They continued until Oct. 21, as it often takes weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak or a standalone case.
Investigators were able to narrow down the outbreak to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders, sparking a recall, before it was later discovered that just one ingredient was the culprit.
“The process to reach this point has at times felt long, challenging, and uncertain,” McDonald’s said in a Tuesday statement. “But it is critical that public officials examine every possible angle, and we are deeply grateful that they moved quickly to identify and, in partnership with McDonald’s, contain the issue. We’d like to thank them once again.”
The US FDA also shared on Tuesday that “McDonald’s is no longer serving recalled onions, and there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak.”
The recall and outbreak have had a massive effect on McDonald’s, as the company announced last month that it was investing $100 million to “accelerate recovery and support the most heavily impacted franchisees” following the recall and outbreak.
“Looking ahead, we must remain laser-focused on regaining our customers’ hard-earned trust and reigniting their brand affinity,” McDonald’s said Tuesday.