Earlier this week, McDonald’s beloved quarter pounder was linked to an E. coli outbreak that sickened 49 people total, hospitalized 10, and killed one over the last month. However, the company’s president Joe Erlinger is now doing his best to assure customers it’s “safe” to eat at the chain.

“We are very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics,” the exec said on TODAY Wednesday. “I want to say to our consumers that you can confidently go to McDonald’s today.”

While it’s still unclear which ingredient in the menu item is the cause of the outbreak, the CDC issued a food safety alert on Tuesday warning customers. McDonald’s has also stopped serving quarter pounder beef patties and slivered onions in several states, including Colorado and Nebraska, where the illnesses were reported. Oregon, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin were also listed as affected states by the organization.

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“This was swift and decisive action by us, and it is the quarter pounder and two ingredients on that quarter pounder that are under investigation by the CDC,” Erlinger continued. “So I want to say to our consumers that you can confidently go to McDonald’s today.”

While Colorado and Nebraska were identified in the outbreak, according to the CDC, it might “not be limited to the states with known illnesses and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported.”

McDonald’s says it’s working closely with its supplier and the CDC to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

“Food safety is our top priority at McDonald’s, it’s the top priority in this building where I am, at the McDonald’s headquarters. It’s a top priority in our nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. It’s the top priority for our suppliers as well,” Erlinger said.

Meanwhile, fans online are slamming the chain—and blaming a certain presidential candidate that stopped by earlier this week. “Wild they waited over weeks to notify the public,” one person wrote on X. “Would you like E. coli with that? No. No, I wouldn’t,” another joked.

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Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.




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