E. coli Outbreak Linked to Onions Served at McDonald’s

Food safety alert

Investigation start date: October 22, 2024
Investigation status: Closed
Recall issued: Yes

New as of 12/03: This outbreak is over. Learn what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick from E. coli.

Fast Facts

United States
  • Cases: 104
  • Hospitalizations: 34
  • Deaths: 1
  • States: 14

New as of 12/03: This outbreak is over. Learn what you can do to protect yourself from getting sick from E. coli.

What you should do

Follow these four steps to prevent getting sick from E. coli.

  • Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or peeling.
  • Separate: Keep food that won't be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
  • Chill: Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the outside temperature is hotter than 90°F, refrigerate within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

Symptoms of E. coli

  • Most people infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli experience severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
    • Symptoms usually start 3 to 4 days after swallowing the bacteria.
    • Most people recover without treatment after 5 to 7 days.
  • Some people may develop serious kidney problems (hemolytic uremic syndrome, also called HUS) and would need to be hospitalized.

Learn more‎

For more information about E. coli, visit the About Escherichia coli page