Fresh Onions Linked to E. Coli Outbreak at McDonald's

An E. coli outbreak linked to fresh onions has led major fast-food chains in the U.S., including McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), to remove the vegetable from their menus. The outbreak, which has affected the Midwest and some Western states, resulted in 49 reported illnesses and one death. The U.S. Department of Agriculture identified onions as a possible source late Wednesday, resulting in the removal of the Quarter Pounder from a fifth of McDonald’s 14,000 restaurants nationwide.

This incident highlights the challenges of ensuring the safety of fruits and vegetables. Experts note that it is more difficult to keep fresh produce free from contamination compared to meat. Mike Taylor, a seasoned attorney in food safety regulations and a board member of STOP Foodborne Illness, emphasized the complexity of the issue. Unlike meat, which is typically cooked, fresh vegetables and fruits are consumed raw, and cooking is a primary method for eliminating contaminants.

Despite thorough washing, sanitizing, and tests similar to those for meat, low levels of contamination in fruits and vegetables can go undetected. Outdoor-grown produce is particularly vulnerable to contamination from wildlife or livestock manure, which can enter the water supply. Mansour Samadpour, CEO of IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group and a food safety expert, explained that while advanced testing has significantly reduced meat recalls, detecting low-level pathogens in produce remains challenging.

Fast-food chains like McDonald's and suppliers such as Taylor Farms are known for safe practices and frequent testing of their vegetables and fruits. However, despite these measures, the recent E. coli strain was not detected in tests carried out within the timeframe recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 mandated the FDA to establish standards for the safe production and harvesting of fruits and vegetables, leading to new regulations for farm products. Donald Schaffner from Rutgers University noted that these regulations often follow public health concerns.

Former FDA official Taylor argued that improving the safety of fruits and vegetables relies on buyers, such as fast-food chains, setting high standards for their suppliers. Samadpour mentioned that radiation can effectively eliminate microorganisms in produce, but it is not a practical solution on a required scale and is generally not favored by consumers.

This is not the first occurrence of such an outbreak; Wendy's faced a similar issue with lettuce in 2022, and Taco Bell experienced a lettuce-linked outbreak in 2006. McDonald's also encountered a parasitic outbreak related to salads in 2018. These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables in the food industry.