October 25, 2024
Posted by: OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers
OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers have filed the first lawsuit against McDonald’s onion supplier Taylor Farms arising from of the multistate E. coli outbreak linked to the “slivered” onions used on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. The defendants are McDonald Corporation and Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc. (Taylor Farms). The lawsuit has been filed in Cook County, Illinois, where McDonald’s is headquartered. A copy of the Complaint is available upon request.
In the wake of the outbreak, McDonald’s indicated that slivered onions were a likely vehicle for the outbreak strain of E. coli, and McDonalds identified Taylor Farms as the source of those onions. OFT Lawyer Brendan Flaherty has called for both McDonald’s and Taylor Farms to publicly release what they know.
“McDonald’s believes contaminated onions rather than its beef were the source of the outbreak strain but really have not said what evidence they have. McDonalds keeps good track of its food suppliers, and says those onions came from Taylor Farms. But Taylor Farms has not publicly stepped up and taken responsibility, publicly identified the growing fields or the customers who received those onions. If you want the public to trust you, you’ve got to come clean. Transparency and trust go hand in hand,” he said in a recent interview. “That is why Mr. Grinstead brought his case: to find out how this happened and get those responsible to step up and take responsibility,” Flaherty said.
According to Flaherty, what will be most telling is whether any product or field testing of onions prove to be positive for E. coli. “I want to see the receipts,” he said. “If all tests, industry and public health, were negative, tell us. If there were any tests that were positive, tell us that too. Tests don’t lie.”
So far, the outbreak sickened 75 people in 13 states, 2 have developed a serious, life-threatening kidney condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one individual has died. Those numbers, however, are expected to increase as the investigation goes on.
Symptoms of E. coli infection typically include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, individuals may develop a fever. Symptoms usually appear 3-4 days after exposure to the bacteria.
Most E. coli infections resolve on their own within a week, and treatment primarily involves staying hydrated and resting. In severe cases, such as when hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) develops, hospitalization and specialized care may be necessary. Antibiotics are not typically recommended, as they can worsen certain types of E. coli infections.
To reduce the risk of E. coli infection during an outbreak, avoid consuming any food products linked to the outbreak, thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, cook meats to a safe internal temperature, and practice good hand hygiene, especially before eating or preparing food.
Young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe complications, such as HUS. These complications can lead to kidney failure and other serious health issues.
With over five decades of combined experience, the lawyers at OFT Law have recovered tens of millions on behalf of food poisoning victims. If you have been affected by this outbreak, contact OFT Law for a free consultation today.
