Colorado Springs Mother and Child Sue McDonald’s After E. Coli Outbreak
A mother and her 10-year-old daughter from Colorado Springs have filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s and Taylor Farms after allegedly contracting E. coli from a double quarter pounder hamburger. Geovanna Zambrano and her daughter purchased the burgers on October 17 from a McDonald’s located at 390 S. 8th St. The following day, they began to experience symptoms typically associated with E. coli poisoning, including nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and diarrhea.
After their condition worsened, the pair sought medical attention at Evans Hospital, where they were diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis and prescribed medications. Symptoms persisted for several days following their visit. The outbreak associated with the burgers was reported by McDonald’s on October 22, with investigations linking it to raw, slivered onions supplied by Taylor Farms. As a result, McDonald’s ceased sourcing onions from the Taylor Farms facility to prevent further incidents.
The outbreak affected at least 104 individuals across 14 states, and tragically, resulted in at least one fatality. An 88-year-old man, James "JC" Charles Smith, fell ill after exposure to E. coli and passed away on October 20.
In her lawsuit filed on December 16 in Cook County, Illinois, Zambrano claims that McDonald’s is liable for selling a contaminated product that was “defective and unreasonably dangerous.” Zambrano, 29, works at a local Dunkin’ Donuts and has experience in food handling. Both she and her daughter were unavailable for comment at this time. As of December 3, the Centers for Disease Control announced the E. coli outbreak has officially ended.