Lawsuit Filed Against McDonald’s Over E. Coli Outbreak
CHICAGO — A mother and her 10-year-old daughter from El Paso County, Colorado, have initiated a lawsuit against McDonald’s and Taylor Farms Colorado, claiming they contracted E. coli after consuming Quarter Pounders. This case emerges amidst a nationwide E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s, affecting at least 104 individuals across 14 states and resulting in 34 hospitalizations, with one Colorado resident succumbing to complications from the infection.
Geovanna Zambrano, 29, recounted purchasing the burgers on October 17, after which both she and her daughter experienced severe symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. The lawsuit accuses the two companies of strict liability and negligence, stating that McDonald’s failed to uphold its basic duty to provide safe food.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state health departments are investigating the outbreak. They have linked the E. coli cases to yellow onions supplied by Taylor Farms, which were served raw on the Quarter Pounders. Following the outbreak, Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall of its yellow onions on October 22.
While federal health authorities did not find the specific E. coli strain in the onions from environmental tests, they concluded that the recalled onions were likely the source of contamination.
Attorneys from Morgan & Morgan, representing Zambrano, emphasized the serious health implications their clients could face, claiming the companies’ negligence could lead to long-term health issues. This lawsuit is part of a larger trend, as other lawsuits have surfaced, including a class-action suit seeking over $5 million in damages due to alleged breaches in food safety by McDonald’s.