Predictably, affected consumers have filed lawsuits relating to foodborne infection from consumption of McDonald’s Quarter Pounder™ sandwiches. Approximately 90 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infections were diagnosed with a number of hospitalizations and two cases of hemolytic uremia syndrome and with one fatality. Following prompt identification of onions as the vehicle of infection and demonstrating that beef patties were free of contamination, McDonald’s has reintroduced the Quarter Pounder. 

In the investors’ call on October 29^th, McDonald’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski, issued an apology for the outbreak although it is evident that this case is unique and that there is no evidence of negligence at this time.  The response by McDonald’s and prompt identification of the source through appropriate field epidemiologic and laboratory investigations demonstrated a capacity for identifying the cause of an outbreak and eliminating risk to consumers.