McDonald’s sued for $50,000 after E. coli outbreak linked to its products leaves one dead and 49 ill

McDonald’s has been sued after an E. coli outbreak linked to its products left one person dead and 49 ill, with an investigation currently underway to confirm the source of the issue.

While most strains of E. coli – or Escherichia coli – are relatively harmless, some can cause serious illness, with the World Health Organization (WHO) saying the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), also known as Escherichia coli 0157, causes ‘severe foodborne illness’.

The current outbreak has forced a number of McDonald’s stores in the US to remove quarter pounders and slivered onions from the menu amid fears that the ingredients may be linked.

So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 49 cases of illnesses across several states, 10 of which have resulted in people being hospitalised. One person has also tragically died.

The outbreak has left one dead and 49 ill (Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Colorado resident Eric Stelly claims to be one of 10 people hospitalised by the outbreak, and is now suing the fast food giant for $50,000.

Stelly and at least 10 others who were affected are being represented by attorney Ron Simon, of law firm Ron Simon and Associates.

However, so far, Stelly is the only person to have filed a complaint, dated 23 October.

The documents, obtained by People, state he had consumed food at his local McDonald’s earlier this month, and went on to experience ‘symptoms of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli’.

Stelly was hospitalised on 8 October, eventually testing positive for the illness.

According to the filing, he ‘continues to recover from the effects of E. coli food poisoning'.

Tyla has reached out to McDonald’s for comment.

In a statement earlier this week, Cesar Piña, McDonald’s North America Chief Supply Chain Officer, said that serving customers ‘safely’ was the company’s ‘top priority’.

“It is why we are taking swift and decisive action following an E. Coli outbreak in certain states,” he explained.

“The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.

McDonald's was forced to remove a number of products from its menus in several locations (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

“As a result, and in line with our safety protocols, all local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.”

Piña added: “Out of an abundance of caution, we are also temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do. Impacted restaurants are receiving a stock recovery notice today and should reach out to their field supply chain manager or distribution center with any questions.

“We are working in close partnership with our suppliers to replenish supply for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks (timing will vary by local market). In the meantime, all other menu items, including other beef products (including the Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Big Mac, McDouble and the Double Cheeseburger) are unaffected and available. We will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are committed to providing timely updates as we restore our full menu.”