McDonald’s faces lawsuits over E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounders sickened dozens of people. The lawsuits allege negligence, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continuing to investigate.
Two customers, Eric Stelly from Colorado and Clarissa DeBock from Nebraska, filed lawsuits in Illinois state court. They claim they contracted E. coli after eating at McDonald’s locations in their respective states. The CDC reports 49 confirmed infections, with one death linked to the outbreak. Investigators believe slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounders caused the contamination.
The Lawsuits
Both Stelly and DeBock say they became seriously ill after eating the Quarter Pounders. They had to seek hospital treatment and are still recovering. Stelly’s infection began after he ate at a McDonald’s in Greeley, Colorado, on October 4. DeBock became sick in late September after dining at a McDonald’s in Nebraska.
The lawsuits accuse the restaurants of negligence, claiming the company failed to test its products properly and allowed contamination to occur. DeBock’s complaint also mentions that McDonald’s did not provide sufficient warnings about potential risks, which could have been identified through reasonable testing and precautions. Both plaintiffs are seeking at least $150,000 in damages, in addition to court costs.
McDonald’s Response
In response to the McDonald’s lawsuits over E. coli outbreak, McDonald’s has acknowledged the possible link between the outbreak and the slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounders. These onions were supplied by a single vendor, which served three distribution centers. The company has since removed onions from all its restaurants and suspended further distribution to prevent additional contamination.
Despite this, Stelly expressed disappointment with McDonald’s handling of the situation. “Never did I expect to suffer like this from eating a burger,” he said. Stelly hopes that his lawsuit will prompt McDonald’s to address the issue and improve its food safety measures.
McDonald’s is facing lawsuits after an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounders. Learn about the ongoing legal battle, the company’s response, and what’s next in this foodborne illness case.
Legal Representation
Law firms specializing in foodborne illness litigation represent the plaintiffs. Peter J. Flowers of Meyers & Flowers and Ron Simon of Ron Simon & Associates are leading the cases. Ron Simon noted that this outbreak could become one of the largest food poisoning incidents of the year. He is confident that they will hold McDonald’s accountable for its role in the outbreak.
What’s Next?
The CDC continues to investigate the outbreak, with slivered onions as the primary suspect. The outbreak has affected customers in several states, including Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, and Missouri. As the situation develops, more cases are expected to surface, and McDonald’s will likely face increased scrutiny over its food safety protocols and procedures.
