An outbreak of E. coli illness linked to onions used in McDonald's Quarter Pounders has expanded to now include 75 cases across 13 states, U.S.
health officials announced Friday. That's up from 49 cases in 10 states reported on Monday. The three new states with illnesses are Michigan, New Mexico and Washington.
"Of 61 people with information available, 22 have been hospitalized and 2 people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome , a serious condition that can cause kidney failure ," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a statement released Friday.
"One death has been reported from an older adult in Colorado." For now, the outbreak appears to be limited to McDonald's Quarter Pounders. "Of 42 people interviewed, all reported eating at McDonald's before their illness started, and most specifically mentioned eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger," the U.
S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement issued Friday. No other retail chains or retailers have been identified as a source of illness, the agency added.
McDonald's has already stopped using the onions, as well as quarter-pound beef patties, in several states while the investigation continues. Taylor Farms, the Colorado supplier of the suspect onions, has also issued a recall . Other fast food chains are now pulling the onions from their menus as a cautionary measure.
Representatives for Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut all told NBC News that some of their restaurants will remove the onions fro.
