CDC worker in a lab

An update to CDC’s Food Safety Alert regarding an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to onions served at McDonald’s has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O157.html

Key Points:

  • Epidemiologic and traceback information show that fresh, slivered onions are the likely source of illness in this outbreak. As of October 30, 2024:
  • All new illnesses occurred before McDonald’s and Taylor Farms took action to remove onions from food service locations.
  • Due to the product actions taken by McDonald’s and Taylor Farms, CDC believes the continued risk to the public is very low.

What You Should Do:

  • If you have severe symptoms of E. coli infection, seek health care, and tell your provider about what you ate.
  • Businesses should not use recalled onions supplied by Taylor Farms.

E. coli Symptoms:

  • Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
  • Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.
  • For more information about E. coli, see the About Escherichia coli Infection.

If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.