McDonald’s Allocates $100 Million to Rebuild Customer Trust Following E. Coli Incident

McDonald’s Invests $100 Million to Recover After E. Coli Outbreak Tied to Quarter Pounder Onions

McDonald’s has announced a $100 million investment to restore customer confidence and support franchises after an E. coli food poisoning outbreak linked to slivered onions on its Quarter Pounder hamburgers.

Of the total, $65 million will be directed to the hardest-hit franchises, according to the company.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified slivered onions on Quarter Pounders as the likely source of the outbreak. Taylor Farms in California recalled the onions in question.

The outbreak affected multiple states, with Colorado reporting 30 cases, Montana 19, Nebraska 13, and New Mexico 10. Between September 12 and October 21, at least 104 people fell ill, and 34 required hospitalization, federal health officials confirmed.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since stated that “there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak at McDonald’s restaurants.”

Despite this reassurance, the incident negatively impacted McDonald’s sales. Quarter Pounders were temporarily removed from menus in several states. To address supply issues, the company secured an alternative onion supplier for the 900 affected restaurants.

As of last week, McDonald’s has resumed serving Quarter Pounders with slivered onions nationwide.