McDonald’s Supplier Expands Recall Amid E. Coli Outbreak

McDonald’s supplier, Taylor Farms, has issued a recall for certain batches of yellow onions produced at its Colorado facility in response to a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to the fast-food chain.

While Taylor Farms, which provided onions to McDonald’s locations involved in the multistate health investigation, has not yet detected traces of E. coli, the company has chosen to recall the products “out of an abundance of caution.” Another major client of Taylor Farms, US Foods Holding Corp., has also instructed at least one of its restaurant partners to dispose of the onions.

“Taylor Farms Colorado has removed yellow onions produced at our Colorado facility from the market. We are working closely with the FDA and CDC as this investigation continues,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

McDonald’s has not yet confirmed the definitive source of the outbreak, which has resulted in dozens of illnesses, one death, and 10 hospitalizations across 10 states. On Wednesday, the company suggested that the slivered raw onions used in its popular Quarter Pounder burger are the most likely source of the contamination, though beef remains a possible cause. In response, McDonald’s has removed Quarter Pounders from 20% of its more than 13,000 U.S. restaurants in an attempt to limit the spread of the outbreak.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are still investigating the situation and have warned that the number of illnesses could increase.

US Foods, a prominent distributor to restaurants, also issued a recall notice for Taylor Farms’ onions. The notice, seen by Bloomberg News, lists several onion products, including peeled and diced varieties, as items that should no longer be served.

One customer affected by the recall is Illegal Pete’s, a burrito chain with locations in Arizona and Colorado, according to a statement from the restaurant. US Foods has yet to respond to requests for comment.