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One dead and dozens sick due to bacteria in a McDonald’s hamburger in the USA

One person died, 49 fell ill and ten were hospitalized in the United States after being infected by the Escherichia coli bacteria while eating at McDonald's, American health authorities said.

Most of those infected were in Colorado and Nebraska, but a total of ten states in the western United States were affected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated on Tuesday.

McDonald’s shares fell more than 8% after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

“All of the people questioned said they had eaten at McDonald’s before getting sick and most of them mentioned having eaten a specific burger”, called “Quarter Pounder” in the United States.

The exact ingredient involved has not been identified, but it could be chopped steak or onions. These two ingredients have been recalled by McDonald’s in the affected states while an investigation is ongoing.

“Food safety is very important to me and everyone at McDonald’s,” said US President Joe Erlinger. “We have taken steps to preemptively remove cut onions, which are used in Quarter Pounders, in certain states,” he said, in a video message.

And “we have also made the decision to temporarily remove” this type of burger “from restaurants in certain states,” he added.

E. coli bacteria cause cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, which usually last three to four days. Most people recover without treatment, but some may develop complications.

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