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Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC pull onions amid E. coli outbreak

Topline

Some Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants have reportedly removed onions from their products as the Food and Drug Administration investigates the cause of a recent E. coli outbreak that has been linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers.

Important facts

Yummy! Brands, the parent company of the three chains, removed the onions out of “considerable caution,” although no cases of E. coli have been linked to foods sold by any of the company's brands, according to multiple reports.

It's not clear which locations had the bulbs removed, although E. coli cases have been reported in an outbreak in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Oregon, Montana, Kansas, Utah, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.

McDonald's, which sold sliced ​​onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states, said in a statement Tuesday that a preliminary investigation has shown that some E. coli cases may be linked to onions sold by a single supplier, which supplies three distribution centers.

Taylor Made, the food company that reportedly supplied McDonald's onions, recalled four onion products Wednesday due to “potential E. coli contamination.”

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Important background

The CDC issued a food safety alert earlier this week saying an E. coli outbreak had affected 49 people in 10 states, with 10 people hospitalized and at least one person dying. Most of those who fell ill said they ate Quarter Pounder hamburgers from McDonald's, and both the CDC and FDA said they were investigating which ingredient was contaminated. McDonald's subsequently withdrew the ingredients used in these burgers in some states, including beef patties and onion slices. While most E. coli bacteria are harmless, some strains can cause vomiting, stomach cramps, and severe symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.

tangent

A Colorado man accused McDonald's of negligence on Wednesday in a lawsuit that said he tested positive for E. coli after eating food sold by the company. The lawsuit is the first against McDonald's since the company's food was linked to the outbreak and seeks a total of $150,000 in damages.

Further reading

ForbesMcDonald's Quarter Pounder linked to E. coli outbreak – CEO is 'very confident' food is safe: Here's what you need to knowFrom Antonio Pequeno IV

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