An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s has led to rising public concern‒could it spell trouble for the popular Quarter Pounder?
An E. coli outbreak was reported at McDonald’s from Sept. 27 to Oct. 16 linked to their sliced onions, leaving many individuals skeptical, about food safety. The onions came from Taylor farms.
E. coli affects the body within 10 days of eating contaminated food. Now, the sliced onions are being removed from other fast-food restaurants.
Common symptoms of an E. coli infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever, though the bacterium is usually benign to the body. E. coli is a bacterium that normally lives in the intestines, it can cause illness if introduced under certain circumstances, such as fecal-to-oral transfer. E. coli negatively affects someone if they eat contaminated food such as raw meat or vegetables, touch contaminated surfaces, or drink contaminated water.
As of Nov. 5, 90 people have fallen ill, 27 hospitalized and one death reported; this is all across 13 different states. In three of those 13 states (Neb., Ill., and Colo.) individuals have filed lawsuits. The lawsuits will most likely continue to grow as more days pass.
The discovery of E. coli connected to sliced onions has led to the removal of quarter pounders across the country, which has raised significant public health concerns and led to operational challenges within the McDonald’s franchise. The lawsuits are one issue, and stocks are another. McDonald’s stocks hit rock bottom.
Prior to the outbreak, McDonald’s stock traded at a stable $314.70 per share. Following the news of the contamination on Oct. 22, shares dropped sharply to $295.19. It was the day most people found out about the outbreak, and when quarter pounders were removed from the menu at various restaurants, including the Fremont location. As of Oct. 26, the price of a share is $292.61. However, prices seem to be changing quickly for McDonald’s because, as of October 28, 2024, a share increased to $296.79.
Unfortunately, for workers, due to a lack of sales, hours have been cut, including the Fremont location. Fremont has lost many good employees due to this drastic change in hours. The cutting of hours in McDonald’s has been inconsistent and drastic, with some still getting their usual hours and others significantly less. Although a lot of workers have been cut hours, managers have relatively the same hours. This is because of the increased food safety regulations. This means more food safety visits, hence more responsibilities for managers, who need to be checking everything constantly now more than ever.
With Quarter Pounders back on the menu the week of Nov. 4, and increased food safety, will McDonald’s recover after this hit? No one truly knows. Will McDonald’s extended $5 Meal Deal, available through December, be enough to regain customers’ trust? Or will new offerings like the Dulce de Leche Frappe and the McRib, help bring in a fresh crowd?
