McDonald's is bringing back quarter pounders to 900 restaurants after the outbreak

Key Takeaways

McDonald’s said it will bring back Quarter Pounders to about 900 restaurants in Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming, as well as parts of nine other states, after an E. coli outbreak last week.
Company officials identified chopped onions from distributor Taylor Farms’ plant in Colorado Springs as the likely source and will not serve them on the burger when sales resume there.
A number of other chains, such as Taco Bell and Burger King, said they have also removed onions from the same Taylor Farms plant from their operations.

McDonald’s (MCD) will put its Quarter Pounders back on the menu at more than 900 restaurants in Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming, as well as parts of nine other states, after a E. coli outbreak last week.

Company officials identified chopped onions from distributor Taylor Farms’ plant in Colorado Springs as the likely source and will not serve them on the burger when sales resume there.

The fast-food giant said Sunday that testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture has ruled out that the beef patties used in its burgers are the cause of the outbreak.

“The issue appears to be limited to a specific ingredient and region, and we remain confident that any contaminated product associated with this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain and from all McDonald’s restaurants,” it said Cesar Piña, Chief Supply Officer at McDonald’s. Chain Officer for North America.

Onionless quarter pounders return to the menu

McDonald’s said it has asked suppliers to resume shipping the beef patties to affected restaurants in a dozen states, with plans to return them to the menu without onions until further notice.

Rivals Yum! To notice (YUM) – the parent company of Taco Bell and KFC – and Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International (QSR) have also recalled chopped onions from their operations that came from the Colorado Springs Taylor Farms plant, according to reports.

Shares of McDonald’s, which fell more than 7% last week, rose 2% when markets opened Monday. The chain will likely provide further updates on the outbreak in its message third-quarter earnings results Tuesday.