At least 75 people are sickened as the deadly McDonald's E. coli outbreak expands

A deadly outbreak of E. coli poisoning tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders has expanded, with at least 75 people sick in 13 states, federal health officials said Friday.

A total of 22 people have now been hospitalized, and two have developed a dangerous kidney disease complication, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. One person has died in Colorado.

No definitive source of the outbreak has been identified, officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. Early information analyzed by the FDA showed that uncooked slivered onions used on the burgers “are a likely source of contamination,” the agency said.

McDonald’s has confirmed that Taylor Farms, a California-based produce company, was the supplier of the fresh onions used in the restaurants involved in the outbreak, and that they had come from a facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“We have made the decision to stop sourcing onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility indefinitely,” McDonald's said in a statement released late Friday.

Taylor Farms said Friday it had preemptively recalled yellow onions sent to its customers from its Colorado facility and continues to work with the CDC and the FDA as they investigate.

“It saddens us to see the illnesses and affected individuals and families,” from the outbreak, the family-owned company said.

McDonald's pulled the Quarter Pounder burger from menus in several states — mostly in the Midwest and Mountain states — when the outbreak was announced Tuesday. McDonald's said Friday that slivered onions from the Colorado Springs facility were distributed to approximately 900 of its restaurants, including some in transportation hubs like airports.

The new cases reported Friday were a sharp increase from the original tally of 49 in 10 states. Most illnesses were reported in Colorado, with 26 cases. At least 13 people were sickened in Montana, 11 in Nebraska, 5 each in New Mexico and Utah, 4 each in Missouri and Wyoming, two in Michigan and one each in Iowa, Kansas, Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington, the CDC reported.

McDonald's said Friday it didn't pull the Quarter Pounder from any additional restaurants due to the increase in the CDC's illness count. The company noted that some cases in states outside the original region were tied to travel.

The CDC said some people who got sick reported traveling to other states before their symptoms started. At least three people said they ate at McDonald's during their travel. Illnesses were reported between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11.

Taylor Farms notified its customers directly about the onion recall but did not tell the public about it, an FDA official said. Companies often issue press releases and the FDA sends public notifications for recalls, but they are not required.

While it remains unclear if the recalled onions were the source of the outbreak, several other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus in certain areas this week.

Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said that 5% of its restaurants use whole onions distributed by Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility. They are washed, peeled and sliced by employees.

Even though it wasn’t contacted by health officials and it had no indications of illness, Restaurant Brands said it asked the restaurants that received onions from the Colorado facility to get rid of them.

The outbreak involves infections with E. coli 0157:H7, a type of bacteria that produces a dangerous toxin. It causes about 74,000 infections in the U.S. annually, leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 61 deaths each year, according to CDC.

People sickened in the outbreak have already moved to sue McDonald's, according to court records. According to her lawsuit, Clarissa DeBock ate food from a local McDonald's in Nebraska on Sept. 18, fell ill on Sept. 23 and sought emergency care two days later before she was diagnosed with an E. coli infection.

Symptoms of E. coli poisoning can occur quickly, within a day or two of eating contaminated food. They typically include fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea and signs of dehydration — little or no peeing, increased thirst and dizziness. The infection is especially dangerous for children younger than 5, people who are elderly, pregnant or who have weakened immune systems.

AP business reporter Dee-Ann Durbin contributed reporting from Detroit.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

The electronic menu order board still displays Quarter Pounder hamburgers but with a prompt to tell consumers they will be available soon at a McDonald's drive-thru Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Littleton, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

FILE - A sign at a McDonald's restaurant is displayed on April 29, 2024, in Albany, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger is shown in this photograph, in New York's Times Square, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

At least 75 sickened as deadly McDonald's E. coli outbreak expands

At least 75 sickened as deadly McDonald's E. coli outbreak expands

A McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger and fries are shown in this photograph, in New York's Times Square, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Dallas (3-3) at San Francisco (3-4)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT, NBC

BetMGM NFL odds: 49ers by 4 1/2.

Against the spread: Cowboys 2-4; 49ers 3-4.

Series record: 49ers lead 20-19-1.

Last meeting: 49ers beat Cowboys 42-10 in Santa Clara, California, on Oct. 8, 2023.

Last week: Cowboys had bye last week, lost 47-9 to Lions on Oct. 13; 49ers lost to Chiefs 28-18.

Cowboys offense: overall (12), rush (32), pass (2), scoring (20).

Cowboys defense: overall (24), rush (27), pass (19), scoring (31).

49ers offense: overall (3), rush (7), pass (4), scoring (8).

49ers defense: overall (14), rush (12), pass (16), scoring (16).

Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-6; 49ers plus-2.

All-Pro CeeDee Lamb has led Dallas in yards receiving in four of its six games, but is still looking for his first 100-yard day. The three-time Pro Bowler had eight last season. ESPN analyst and former Dallas QB Troy Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl winner, criticized Lamb’s route-running in a radio appearance a few days after the loss to the Lions. Lamb and QB Dak Prescott have already had a couple of tense sideline moments this season. A year ago, Lamb’s sideline antics drew plenty of attention at the Niners on a miserable day for the Dallas offense in a 42-10 loss.

WR Ricky Pearsall made his NFL debut last week exactly 50 days after being shot in the chest. The first-round rookie had three catches for 21 yards against Kansas City but will likely need to play a bigger role on Sunday with Brandon Aiyuk out with a season-ending knee injury.

Special teams. The Cowboys come into the game with one of the best special teams units, while the Niners have had one of the worst. San Francisco is on pace for the third worst net punting average in the past 10 seasons and allowed another long return last week that set up a TD. The Niners have also had a punt blocked, allowed a kick return TD and rank near the bottom in starting field position for and against on kickoffs. Dallas had a punt return TD in Week 1, leads the NFL in punt return average and ranks near the top in starting field position for and against after kicks.

Two-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons will miss a third consecutive game with a high ankle sprain. It’s the first time Parsons has missed time because of injury in three-plus seasons with Dallas. ... CB DaRon Bland also has been ruled out. The All-Pro hasn’t played this season after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his foot at the end of the preseason. Bland set an NFL record last season with five interception returns for touchdowns. ... Two Dallas rookies could return. LT Tyler Guyton (knee) was active but didn’t play against the Lions after getting injured at Pittsburgh. CB Caelen Carson, Bland’s replacement to start the season, is questionable with a shoulder injury. So is LB Eric Kendricks, who signed with Dallas as a free agent in the offseason and initially agreeing to terms with the Niners. ... San Francisco will be without WR Jauan Jennings (hip) but WR Deebo Samuel should be back after missing most of last week's game with pneumonia. ... Niners DT Kevin Givens (groin) also is out this week.

The 49ers won the past three meetings — including two in the playoffs — and are seeking their longest winning streak in the series since winning six in a row from 1981-90. ... The Niners' 42-10 win at home last season was their most lopsided in the series. ... Prescott has a 60.3 passer rating with three TD passes and six INTs in his past three starts against San Francisco.

Two of the Cowboys’ victories have been in prime time, including Sunday night at Pittsburgh in Week 5. ... Dallas is 3-0 on the road and 0-3 at home. ... The Cowboys are tied for 26th in takeaways with five and tied for 30th in turnover margin at minus-6. They finished at least plus-10 in each of their three seasons under former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, now the coach in Washington. ... Prescott led a winning fourth-quarter drive in Dallas’ previous Sunday night game at Pittsburgh. His next will be his 24th, which would tie Tony Romo for the franchise record. ... Prescott has five giveaways the past two games (four interceptions and a fumble). His most in a three-game stretch is eight in 2017, during a three-game losing streak that sent Dallas tumbling out of the playoff picture. ... RB Rico Dowdle had one carry each in the first and second quarters against Detroit a week after the best game of the fifth-year player’s career in the victory over the Steelers. Dallas is last in the NFL in rushing offense with the lingering question of whether Dalvin Cook might get his first chance coming off the practice squad after signing late in the preseason. Ezekiel Elliott, a two-time rushing champ for Dallas who rejoined his original team in the offseason, hasn’t been effective with his limited opportunities. ... WR Brandin Cooks’ knee injury has given Jalen Tolbert his first prominent role in three seasons with the Cowboys. Tolbert caught the winning TD against the Steelers, and his next score will be a career-high third. ... K Brandon Aubrey, who missed practice all week because of jury duty but is expected to play, has at least one field goal from 50 or more yards in eight consecutive games, an NFL record. ... The 49ers are in danger of dropping two games below .500 for the first time since a 2-4 start in 2021. ... San Francisco QB Brock Purdy threw three INTs last week for just the second time in his career. ... Purdy became the first Niners QB with two rushing TDs in a game last week. His 17 rushing first downs are tied for the fifth most for any QB. ... San Francisco leads the NFL with 26 pass plays for at least 20 yards. ... The Niners had multiple INTs in back-to-back games. The previous time they did that three straight games in a season came in 2014. ... San Francisco TE George Kittle needs six catches in his 105th game to become the fourth fastest TE to 500 catches. ... Niners LB Fred Warner had a sack, forced fumble and INT last year against Dallas. With an INT on Sunday, Warner will be the first player with INTs in three straight games vs. Dallas since Jordan Hicks did it in the 2015-16 seasons. ... San Francisco is tied for third in the NFL with 13 takeaways.

With their receivers banged up, the 49ers could put more of the load on RB Jordan Mason against one of the league's worst run defenses. Mason had had only 37 carries the past three games after averaging 111.8 yards rushing per game the first four weeks. This could be the game that gets him back to that kind of production.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (14) catches a pass against Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) gains yards after catching a pass as Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) pursues in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)