E.coli associated with quarter-pounder burgers in the American West has led to an outbreak that killed one person and hospitalized 10 others. In response, McDonald’s has launched a campaign to urgently address the situation.
McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said Wednesday on NBC’s “Today” show, “We are confident that you will be happy to go to McDonald’s and eat our food.” He also explained that customers can safely enjoy McDonald’s food without any worries.
On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert, revealing that at least 49 people have been infected. The cases are mostly in the states of Colorado and Nebraska, and the affected individuals were found to have eaten quarter-pounder burgers at McDonald’s.
Company Actions and Market Response
Joe Erlinger explained that McDonald’s immediately removed the Quarter Pounder from its menu. “If there is any contaminated product in the supply chain, it has already been taken out,” he said.
McDonald’s shares fell 7% on Wednesday after the incident, marking the biggest one-day decline since March 2020, when the Covid lockdown began.
This incident recalls the 2015 E. coli and norovirus outbreaks at Chipotle, which caused the company’s image and share value to plummet. Chipotle suffered millions of dollars in losses, but its image and business improved when new CEO Brian Niccol took over in 2018. He emphasized staff training and food safety standards.
Historical Context and Commitment to Safety
In McDonald’s current E. coli case, the FDA has indicated that sliced onions are suspected of being contaminated, prompting McDonald’s to ban the use of onions and quarter-pounders in some states in response to the incident.
The company released a statement saying, “Customer safety is our top priority at every McDonald’s restaurant, and we will not compromise on that.”
McDonald’s has faced food controversies before. In 2003, the company’s share price temporarily fell due to Mad Cow Disease, but consumers did not react negatively at that time. In 2004, the documentary “Super Size Me” exposed McDonald’s to health criticism, but it had little impact on the stock.
In 2011, the company was accused of using “pink slime” meat, but it has since stopped using such meat. In this regard, the company was forced to clarify again in 2021.
The most famous dispute in 1992 involved McDonald’s hot coffee, in which a woman suffered serious injuries and was awarded a large damages judgment.