In a widespread response to a suspected E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s restaurants, several major fast-food chains, including Burger King, Taco Bell, and KFC are pulling fresh onions from select locations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the outbreak, which has impacted dozens and resulted in one fatality, is still under investigation, with slivered onions on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers among the potential sources.
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Yum Brands Inc., which owns Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut, has taken immediate action by pulling fresh onions from certain locations. Though Yum! did not disclose specific regions affected or suppliers involved, the company expressed that the decision was “out of an abundance of caution” and committed to closely monitoring supplier and regulatory updates to ensure food safety standards.
Burger King, owned by Restaurant Brands International, also took steps for similar concerns. The fast-food giant sources a portion of its onions from Taylor Farms, the Colorado-based supplier also providing onions to McDonald’s. Although no direct health advisories have implicated Burger King’s onions, the chain opted to dispose of onions from Taylor Farms as a precaution and began resupplying from other facilities. “Although we have had no reports of illness or formal communication from health authorities, we instructed 5% of our locations using Taylor Farms onions to discard them immediately,” Burger King said in a statement.
Taylor Farms, at the center of the investigation, has voluntarily recalled certain batches of yellow onions distributed to several restaurant chains, including McDonald's. The company emphasised that no traces of E. coli were found in the recalled batches, but it has cooperated fully with CDC efforts to investigate potential contamination sources. Prominent distributors, including US Foods Holding Corp. and Sysco Corp., have since alerted their customers to the Taylor Farms recall.
With rising consumer awareness and regulatory scrutiny, other chains are also distancing themselves from the outbreak. Chipotle Mexican Grill and Inspire Brands, which operates brands such as Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, stated that they do not use onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado facility and have seen no need to remove ingredients. Meanwhile, McDonald’s, which initially sparked the concern, has taken immediate steps by temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from 20% of its US locations in states where outbreaks were reported. The CDC has not yet ruled out the possibility that beef patties, which typically become safe through proper cooking, could also be contributing to the outbreak. As the investigation continues, McDonald’s has opted for a broader precautionary approach by removing both beef patties and onions from affected regions.
This recent food safety alert has given rise to public discussions around supply chain protocols and affected the stock performance of major fast-food companies. McDonald’s stock saw a slight decline earlier this week, with some analysts speculating potential impacts on sales due to consumer hesitancy. Burger King and Yum! Brands, however, have seen only minor fluctuations, and their stocks remain relatively stable despite the outbreak.