Following a fatal Escherichia coli outbreak linked to organic carrots that has sickened people in multiple U.S. states, the Government of Canada is warning consumers not to eat recalled products distributed by California-based Grimmway Farms.

A multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121:H19 infections linked to organic carrots has sickened 39 people, resulting in 15 hospitalizations and one death.

The number of patients reported in the ongoing Escherichia coli outbreak linked to onions served at McDonald’s restaurants has grown to 104 people across 14 states. A patient has recently been reported in North Carolina.

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was investigating a grower of interest in Washington state, the agency has been unable to definitively implicate a grower in the Escherichia coli outbreak linked to onions supplied by Taylor Farms and served at McDonald’s.

In the debut installment of the Food Safety Five Newsreel, we discuss an ongoing multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli infections linked to onions served at McDonald’s restaurants. The episode also takes a look at legislation passed in California that marks the country’s first mandatory food date labeling reforms.

A new partnership between Trace Register and Foa and Son International Insurance Brokers provides incentive for the seafood industry to receive product contamination and recall insurance by applying half of insurance premiums toward Trace Register seafood traceability subscription costs.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially named Taylor Farms onions served at McDonald’s as the source of the recent Escherichia coli outbreak, and has reported 90 illnesses, 27 hospitalizations, two cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, and one fatality.

Testing has shown no sign of Escherichia coli contamination in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder beef patties, and traceback and epidemiological data have ruled out beef as the cause of the ongoing E. coli outbreak. Quarter Pounders have returned to the menu at affected McDonald’s locations—without slivered onions.

Amid the ongoing E. coli outbreak, Taylor Farms has been confirmed as the onion supplier to the affected McDonald’s locations. As a result, national restaurant chains are proactively pulling onions from their menus. FDA is still investigating whether onions are the vehicle of illness.

A foodborne illness outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders contaminated with Escherichia coli has caused 49 illnesses, ten hospitalizations, and one death in ten states. Slivered onions used on the sandwiches are the probable vehicle of illness.