Title: FDA Discovers Unclean Equipment and Inadequate Hygiene at McDonald's Onion Supplier Following E. Coli Outbreak
A recent report from the Food and Drug Administration reveals numerous food safety concerns at McDonald's onion supplier, Taylor Farms, linked to a nationwide outbreak of E. coli that affected over a hundred people. CBS News acquired this report through a Freedom of Information Act request. The FDA's inspection of Taylor Farms' Colorado facility uncovered issues like a lack of proper contamination control and dirty equipment, contributing to the contamination of onions used on Quarter Pounder burgers.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the outbreak in late October, with 104 cases across 14 states accounting for 34 hospitalizations and one death. While some other fast-food chains temporarily withdrew their onion products due to caution, the outbreak was solely linked to Taylor Farms' fresh, slivered onions. The company issued a large recall of its other onion products, but no further cases outside of McDonald's were reported.
After switching to a different onion supplier, McDonald's resumed serving Quarter Pounder burgers and slivered onions by early December. Government health officials then declared the outbreak over. However, the FDA's report highlights potential issues at Taylor Farms that may have contributed to the outbreak, such as "numerous equipment with apparent biofilm and large amounts of food debris," areas prone to recontamination, and dirty production rooms.
Taylor Farms acknowledged the report's findings and said it has taken steps to rectify the issues. In a statement to CBS News, the company said, "As is common following an inspection, FDA issued observations of conditions that could be improved at one of our facilities." Despite these issues, Taylor Farms claimed to have best-in-class food safety processes and a high regard for the quality and safety of their products.
In contrast to the decreasing annual reported foodborne illnesses, the incidence of common germs like Listeria and Salmonella has remained consistent, while the incidence has increased for other diseases like Campylobacter and Cyclospora. The U.S. is not on track to reach the lower rates of foodborne disease set as a goal by the federal government for 2030. The McDonald's E. coli outbreak, while less severe than past incidents, demonstrates that today's food supply still faces challenges.
In response to the FDA's inspection, Taylor Farms addressed various issues: improving sanitation procedures, removing biofilm and food debris, enhancing documentation for safe use of sanitation chemicals, providing training to employees, and adjusting facilities, among other steps. Despite these efforts, the report did not result in any regulatory actions against the company.
The future of food safety at Taylor Farms hinges on their commitment to addressing the issues outlined in the FDA's report, including improving sanitation procedures, removal of biofilm, and enhancing employee training. The advancement of science and technology in food safety sectors could potentially help prevent such outbreaks in the future.
