Top fast-food chains across the US have removed fresh onions from their menus. It comes days after a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to vegetables at a McDonald’s restaurant killed one person and sickened at least 49 others. On Thursday, Burger King’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International, announced it would remove fresh onions from its offerings. About 5 percent of Burger King locations had already taken this precautionary step, a spokesperson said. “We have been told by corporate not to use any onions in the near future,” Maria Gonzales, an on-duty manager at a Burger King in the US state of Colorado, told Reuters.
Yum Brands, which oversees KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, also said it was removing onions “out of an abundance of caution.” About 5 percent of Burger King’s outlets receive supplies from Taylor Farms, but a spokesperson indicated that the chain has not yet been contacted by health officials regarding any illnesses.
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The US Department of Agriculture and CDC identified fresh onions as the possible source of the outbreak, while the Food and Drug Administration continues to investigate all possible sources without confirming the exact cause.
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McDonald’s has verified that Taylor Farms supplied the chopped onions that have been removed from its menu. According to a recall notice issued by US Foods, one of the largest food service distributors in the United States, the company has recalled several batches of yellow onions obtained from a facility in Colorado.
There are also concerns about whether McDonald’s beef patties may also be affected, although E. coli can be eliminated in beef through proper cooking. McDonald’s Quarter Pounder, which is typically served with raw, chopped onions, has been removed from about 20 percent of its U.S. restaurants, especially in states like Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming.
