A sandwich contaminated with Escherichia Coli, specifically sliced onions, is believed to be the cause of death of a man in the United States who ate at McDonald’s. Let’s clarify the matter, understanding what we know to date and what the symptoms and treatment are.
They have registered since September 27th 49 cases of Escherichia Coli in some US states, one of which developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure due to blood clots in the organs, and an elderly Colorado man died.
Escherichia Coli and McDonald’s: what happens
The American CDC, the center for disease control and prevention, says that an investigation has been opened to understand what caused these cases of contamination and, from initial hypotheses, it is thought that the cause could be sliced onions.
There is only one sandwich in question at the moment, the Quarter Pounder, apparently eaten by people who contracted the bacterium: in all cases it is the same strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7.
The meat used should be cleared as it is cooked at compliant temperatures, therefore above 70 degrees.
Then the focus shifts to sliced onions which, in fast food restaurants affected by Escherichia coli, should come from the same supplier.
@greenme_it 🍔 There is an Escherichia coli alarm in McDonald’s in the USA: there are already 49 poisoned people and one death and the cases are destined to rise. But what is happening? How did the feces-associated bacterium (being present in the intestines of humans and several animals) end up in fast-food products? 💩 The contamination started from a very popular sandwich, or rather from a very specific ingredient: let’s clarify! . . . #mcdonalds #Escherichiacoli #usa #fastfood
♬ original sound – greenMe
Escherichia Coli, other cases in the United States
This case is reminiscent of Jack in the Box which, due to the low cooking temperature of the meat, triggered an Escherichia coli epidemic between 1992 and 1993 which led to the death of 4 children and hundreds of sick people.
Even in that case the strain of Escherichia coli was the O157:H7.
Escherichia coli: the McDonald’s reaction
For its part, McDonald’s, which has suffered a sharp collapse on the stock market due to this affair, says that it is doing everything possible to understand which food is actually contaminated. In the meantime, it has withdrawn the Quarter Pounder sandwich from the menu of a fifth of its customers. US restaurants.
The risks of Escherichia Coli: symptoms and treatment
The Escherichia Coli bacterium, normally present in our body and useful for digestion, in some cases can cause even serious symptoms depending on the strain.
The bacterium is present in contaminated food and water and causes symptoms such as:
The bacterium dies when cooked beyond 60 degrees.
The symptoms of Escherichia Coli infection pass within a few days and can be treated with antibiotics, although increasingly the antibiotics used appear to be less effective.
Cases in the United States could be set to increase, but according to experts this would not concern Italy and Europe in general.
