The first lawsuit has already been slapped on fast food giant McDonald’s following an E. coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounder line of burger, which has so far led to 49 reported illnesses across 10 US states, including one death.
CNN reports that the lawsuit was filed in Cook County, Illinois, where McDonald’s is headquartered, by Colorado resident Eric Stelly.
Negligence alleged
Stelly claims he fell ill after consuming a Quarter Pounder from a McDonald’s location in Greeley, Colorado, and is still recovering from severe symptoms, including nausea, cramps and bloody stools.
The lawsuit alleges product liability, negligence and breach of implied warranties against the fast-food giant.
The legal action comes just a day after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a food safety alert, warning that individuals who ate Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s had reported illnesses.
While a specific source of contamination has not been confirmed, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified slivered onions and beef patties used in the product as the likely culprits.
McDonald’s has since removed Quarter Pounders from the menu in several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, and halted the use of slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties as the investigation continues.
Illness numbers could increase
In response to the outbreak, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger reassured customers that it is still safe to dine at McDonald’s, stating that the contaminated ingredients are likely no longer in the supply chain.
But Erlinger acknowledged that the number of reported illnesses could increase as the CDC continues its investigation.
McDonald’s supplier, Taylor Farms Colorado, has removed yellow onions from the market as a precaution but reported no traces of E. coli in their tests.
This lawsuit, filed by food safety lawyer Ron Simon, is the first in what could be a series of legal actions against the fast food behemoth. Simon’s firm is representing at least 10 other individuals affected by the outbreak.
Simon stated that the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak is shaping up to be one of the most significant food safety cases of the year, with victims seeking compensation for their suffering and medical expenses.
Ingredients removed
McDonald’s has taken action to mitigate the impact of the outbreak by temporarily removing the affected ingredients in certain regions.
The company continues to cooperate with the FDA and CDC, but the legal challenges it faces may mount as more victims come forward.
A second lawsuit has already been filed on behalf of a Nebraska woman, who also claims to have contracted E. coli after eating a Quarter Pounder.
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