- coli was first discovered in 1885 and a new outbreak has been reported this year. E. coli is an illness caused by bacteria found in uncooked or raw meats and yellow onions. E. coli affects over 265,000 people in the United States every year. McDonald’s has caused 104 Americans to contract E. coli.
According to the CDC, “Most people in the outbreak report that they had the Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before getting sick.” According to the article “E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Onions Served at McDonald’s” by the CDC, “…Fresh, slivered onions are the likely source of illness in this outbreak.” In some states, McDonald’s has tried to prevent this illness by not putting sliced onions in their burgers. McDonald’s decided to fire their onion supplier due to the outbreak. McDonald’s onions might not be the only thing carrying E. coli because their beef patties are another ingredient determined as a potential source of the sickness, as they have potentially not fully cooked their patties when serving their burgers. Onions and undercooked patties aren’t the only things with E. coli. When making food with dirty hands, it leaves germs on the food, and when you eat that food, you can get sick with E. coli.
Symptoms of E. coli are intense vomiting and diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days, a fever higher than 102°F, and dehydration. If you are unsure if you have E. coli, some signs you can look for are severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Symptoms of E. coli can begin up to 5 days after eating foods contaminated with the bacteria, although some may get symptoms within hours of eating the contaminated food. According to the Cleveland Clinic website, ” You usually develop symptoms of an STEC infection within three to five days after drinking or eating foods contaminated with this E. coli bacteria.” E. coli does not have a specific treatment or cure right away, but there are some treatments to make you feel better even faster. Drinking lots of clear fluids such as water, juices, and sparkling water can help clear out E. coli faster.
The CDC article “How To Prevent E. coli” says, ”The best ways to prevent infection are by keeping your hands clean, preparing food safely, and drinking safe water.” Doing these simple steps can make a big difference in your health.
