FDA closes investigation into recalled yellow onions

The Food and Drug Administration said in an update that it closed the investigation into the multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to recalled yellow onions distributed by Taylor Farms and served at McDonald’s restaurants in certain states.

Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled yellow onions in October and notified foodservice customers that were impacted.

The FDA said that McDonald’s no longer serves the recalled onions and it does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to the outbreak.

In a November update, the agency said that it, along with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, collected several product and environmental samples during this investigation. One FDA sample of recalled onions and one environmental sample from a grower tested positive for E. coli, the samples were non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and did not match the outbreak strain or any other clinical illnesses. The agencies analyzed additional samples and tested negative for E. coli.

The FDA said the strain of E. coli linked to illnesses in this outbreak was not found in onion or environmental samples, however, epidemiologic and traceback evidence showed that recalled yellow onions were the likely source of the outbreak.

A total of 104 people in 14 states were found infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. Of the 81 people interviewed, 80 reported eating at McDonald’s and 63 reported eating specific menu items containing fresh, slivered onions.