McDonald’s E. coli case count rises as federal officials inspect an onion grower

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials connected Wednesday reported much cases of E. coli poisoning among group who ate astatine McDonald’s, arsenic authorities investigators seeking nan outbreak’s root identified an “onion grower of interest” successful Washington state.

The Food and Drug Administration said 90 group crossed 13 states person fallen sick successful nan outbreak, up from 75 astatine nan extremity of past week. The number of group hospitalized accrued by five, to 27 people. One decease has been tied to nan outbreak.

Officials person said raw, slivered onions connected McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers are nan apt root of nan E. coli. McDonald’s said nan onions came from a azygous supplier, nan California-based Taylor Farms. The institution has since recalled nan yellowish onions it sent to McDonald’s and different edifice chains.

The FDA said Wednesday it has begun inspecting Taylor Farm’s processing halfway successful Colorado Springs arsenic good arsenic an “onion grower of interest” successful Washington state. It did not sanction nan grower.

More than 80% of group pinch E. coli interviewed by authorities investigators reported eating McDonald’s items containing fresh, slivered onions, nan FDA noted.

McDonald’s said past week that onions from nan Colorado Springs installation were distributed to astir 900 of its restaurants, including immoderate successful proscription hubs for illustration airports. The edifice concatenation announced that it would resume serving Quarter Pounders astatine hundreds of its restaurants aft testing ruled retired beef patties arsenic nan root of nan outbreak.

The strain of E. coli down nan outbreak tin origin vulnerable diarrhea and lead to kidney nonaccomplishment and different superior problems. It causes astir 74,000 infections successful nan U.S. annually, starring to much than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to nan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

FDA officials said Wednesday nan existent consequence of unwellness “is debased because nan onions person been recalled and should nary longer beryllium available.” They noted that each of nan reported cases occurred earlier Taylor Farms and McDonald’s removed nan onions from nan market.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from nan Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for each content.