There is concern in the USA over the Escherichia Coli outbreak linked to a popular McDonald’s sandwich which has caused food poisoning in 49 people, also causing one death. But the question arises spontaneously: is this sandwich available in Italy?
The recent outbreak of Escherichia Coli which featured the fast food chain McDonald’s in the United States, continues to be talked about. The news, not surprisingly, went around the world: 49 people fell ill after consuming the well-known Quarter Pounder (one of the chain’s most iconic sandwiches together with the Big Mac) and one death was also recorded.
The cause of the outbreak in the USA
Investigations conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have clarified the cause of the outbreak in the USA. Contrary to what one might think, the source of food poisoning is not ground beefbut another ingredient.
It’s about the raw onion slices found in Quarter Pounders. The onions, not being cooked, could have carried the Escherichia Coli O157 bacterium, one of the most dangerous strains of this common bacterium.
THE. Coli O157 is known to produce a toxin that can cause major symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, dehydration and, in severe cases, kidney failure. Among 49 people affected in the United States, one child developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication that can cause permanent kidney damage.
This contamination episode, unfortunately, is not isolated in the history of McDonald’s. The chain has been involved in other incidents in the past, including an E. Coli outbreak in 1982 and a cyclospora outbreak in 2018, which prompted the company to strengthen food safety protocols. Despite this, the global nature of the chain and the vastness of its supplier network continue to present major challenges in terms of quality control and risk prevention.
The new E. Coli outbreak has also raised questions in our country, especially among the chain’s customers: does the same sandwich exist in Italy? And what is it called?
Is there a Quarter Pounder in Italy?
In the United States, the Quarter Pounder has been one of the best-selling sandwiches for decades. Its name derives from the weight of the raw minced meat used to prepare it: a quarter of a pound, or approximately 113 grams. However, this famous hamburger does not have the same name in all countries.
In Italy he was known as McRoyal Deluxewe say “was” because
The McRoyal Deluxe had the same characteristics as the American Quarter Pounder: a thicker beef burger than the others, enriched with slices of cheese, onion, tomato and sauces. The sandwich made its debut in Italy with great success, so much so that it was considered one of McDonald’s “premium” proposals. However, as happened in other countries, its production was phased out and today it is no longer available.
The difference in name, among other things, is not just a prerogative of Italy. In Switzerland, for example, the Quarter Pounder is known as Cheeseburger Royal, while in Germany it is called Hamburger Royal TS. In France and other French-speaking countries, it is called Royal Cheese, as made famous by a scene in Quentin Tarantino’s film Pulp Fiction, in which Samuel L. Jackson’s character explains that, because of the metric system, it makes no sense talk about a “quarter pounder” in those countries.
The situation at McDonald’s in Italy is not currently at risk but, for many other good reasons, it is better not to frequent this or other fast food restaurants too much, opting for healthier food choices.
