A Colorado man has filed the first lawsuit against McDonald’s over an E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounder burgers that has resulted in one death and nearly 50 illnesses. Eric Stelly, who dined at a Greeley, Colorado McDonald’s on October 4, tested positive for E. coli shortly afterward. Stelly filed his lawsuit in Cook County, Illinois, where McDonald’s is headquartered, seeking over $50,000 in damages, alleging that the company was negligent in food safety.
Following the lawsuit, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger emphasized the company’s commitment to rebuilding public trust. As a precaution, McDonald’s removed the Quarter Pounder from menus at 20% of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. The outbreak has affected individuals across the U.S. West and Midwest, with one fatality and 10 hospitalizations.
Stelly’s attorney, Ron Simon, noted that he also represents 15 other individuals impacted by the outbreak. Meanwhile, the CDC and McDonald’s are investigating slivered onions and beef patties as potential sources of the contamination. Preliminary findings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggest the onions are likely responsible, although beef samples are also being tested. The E. coli O157strain involved in this outbreak is the same strain linked to a 1993 Jack in the Box incident that led to the deaths of four children.
McDonald’s suppliers maintain frequent testing protocols, yet no trace of this E. coli strain was detected in the period identified by the CDC.
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