--- title: "Marler Clark, the food safety law firm, weighs in on E. coli lawsuit against McDonald's" date: 2024-10-25T13:31:00-07:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/marler-clark-the-food-safety-law-firm-weighs-in-with-e-coli-lawsuit-against-mcdonalds" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Press Releases](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/press-releases) / # Marler Clark, the food safety law firm, weighs in on E. coli lawsuit against McDonald's Seattle, WA — Today, the *E. coli* attorneys at Marler Clark filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s Corporation on behalf of Sarah Johnson, in the District Court of the District of Nebraska (Complaint # 4:24-cv-03195, see attached below). McDonald’s has confirmed that Taylor Farms was the supplier of onions that have been linked to a deadly *E. coli* outbreak traced to *Quarter Pounder* burgers sold at the chain’s restaurants in at least 10 states. As of October 24, 2024, 75 people infected with the outbreak strain of *E. coli* O157:H7 have been reported from 13 states, including Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan. According to available information, 22 people have been hospitalized, and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. One death has been reported from an older adult in Colorado. Taylor Farms, the supplier of slivered onions to the McDonald’s locations, has initiated a voluntary recall and has asked customers to stop using some onions while this investigation is ongoing. Food service customers were contacted directly and told to remove onions. In addition, on October 23, 2024, U.S. Foods reported that Taylor Farms had recalled whole, peeled onions as well as diced onions. But the wholesaler also said that it was not a McDonald’s supplier and that its recall did not include any products sold at the fast-food chain’s restaurants. Other fast-food chains have pulled fresh onions from their menus, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King. Illegal Pete’s also took onions off the menu according to a U.S. Foods recall notice. U.S. Foods, the country’s largest supplier of food-to-food service operations including restaurants in all 50 states, said the recalled onions came from a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado. Recent onion outbreaks: [80 illnesses in 23 states linked to Gills Onions](https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-onions-october-2023#:~:text=Additional%20Images-,Product,CDC)%20declares%20the%20outbreak%20over.) [1040 illness in 41 states linked to ProSource and Keeler Family Farms Onions](https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-oranienburg-whole-fresh-onions-october-2021) [1127 illness in 48 states linked to Thomson Onions](https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-newport-red-onions-july-2020) [19 illnesses in seven states linked to Taylor Farms Onion and Celery Mix](https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/ecoli/2015/o157h7-11-15/index.html) [](http://www.billmarler.com/) [William “Bill” Marler ](http://www.billmarler.com/)has been a food safety lawyer and advocate since the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box *E. coli* O157:H7 outbreak which was chronicled in the book [“Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat”](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=1020790832&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D1725078326%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.amazon.com%252FPoisoned-Deadly-Outbreak-Changed-Americans%252Fdp%252F098495435X%26a%3D%2522Poisoned%2522&a=%22Poisoned%22) and in the recent Emmy Award-winning [Netflix documentary, "Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food."](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=2811251747&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D3559152489%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.netflix.com%252Ftitle%252F81460481%2523%253A%257E%253Atext%253D2023%252520%25257C%252520Maturity%252520Rating%25253ATV%25252D%252Cfoodborne%252520illness%252520in%252520the%252520US.%26a%3DNetflix%2Bdocumentary&a=Netflix+documentary) Bill’s work has been profiled in The New Yorker, [“A Bug in the System;”](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=3494984181&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D225575945%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.newyorker.com%252Fmagazine%252F2015%252F02%252F02%252Fbug-system%26a%3D%2522A%2BBug%2Bin%2Bthe%2BSystem%253B%2522&a=%22A+Bug+in+the+System%3B%22) The Seattle Times, [“30 years after the deadly *E. coli* outbreak, a Seattle attorney still fights for food safety;”](https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/30-years-after-the-deadly-e-coli-outbreak-a-seattle-attorney-still-fights-for-food-safety/) The Washington Post, [“He helped make burgers safer. Now he is fighting food poisoning again;”](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=4007553127&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D3259035492%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.washingtonpost.com%252Fnational%252Fhe-helped-make-burgers-safer-now-hes-fighting-food-poisoning-again%252F2020%252F01%252F18%252F5b979cf8-38ad-11ea-9541-9107303481a4_story.html%26a%3D%2522He%2Bhelped%2Bmake%2Bburgers%2Bsafer%252C%2BNow%2Bhe%2Bis%2Bfighting%2Bfood%2Bpoisoning%2Bagain%253B%2522&a=%22He+helped+make+burgers+safer%2C+Now+he+is+fighting+food+poisoning+again%3B%22) and [several others](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=3545986551&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D4034776-2%26h%3D2749355817%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fbillmarler.com%252Fbiography%26a%3Dseveral%2Bothers&a=several+others). Bill regularly speaks about the importance of preventing foodborne illness to industry and government throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, China, and Australia. He is a frequent commentator on food litigation and food safety to [Marler Blog](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=1230212809&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marlerblog.com%2F&a=Marler+Blog). Bill is also the publisher of [Food Safety News](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4225647-1&h=4125170773&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2447639-1%26h%3D3589830031%26u%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.foodsafetynews.com%252F%26a%3DFood%2BSafety%2BNews&a=Food+Safety+News). For all media inquiries, please contact Julie Dueck at (206) 930-4220 or jdueck@marlerclark.com. [Johnson Mc D complaint FINAL (pdf)](https://holistic-kudu.files.svdcdn.com/production/publications/marler-clark-the-food-safety-law-firm-weighs-in-with-e-coli-lawsuit-against-mcdonalds/Johnson-McD-complaint-FINAL.pdf?dm=1729888251) ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Raw Farms linked to another Raw Milk Cheese E.coli Outbreak - 9 People sickened - Company refuses to recall product](https://marlerclark.com/raw-farms-linked-to-another-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-7-people-sickened) [10 with E. coli linked to Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/3-with-e-coli-linked-to-cheese) [Sycamore Pool in Chico California Contaminated with E.coli - Two teens in ICU](https://marlerclark.com/sycamore-pool-in-chico-california-contaminated-with-e-coli-two-teens-in-icu) [Deadly Nationwide E.coli Outbreak Linked to Grimmway Farms Organic Baby and Whole Carrots sickens 48](https://marlerclark.com/nationwide-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-grimmway-farms-organic-baby-and-whole-carrots) [E. coli Outbreak tied to Red Cow and Hen House Restaurants](https://marlerclark.com/e-coli-outbreak-tied-to-red-cow-and-hen-house-restaurants) [Rockwood Summit High School E. coli Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/rockwood-summit-high-school-e-coli-outbreak) [McDonalds linked to 104 E. coli cases and 1 Death](https://marlerclark.com/mcdonalds-linked-to-nearly-50-e-coli-cases-and-1-death) [2 dead with 22 injured in E. coli Hamburger Outbreak in Montana](https://marlerclark.com/1-dead-with-13-injured-in-e-coli-hamburger-outbreak-in-montana) [E. coli Outbreak in Washington and California linked to Walnuts](https://marlerclark.com/e-coli-outbreak-in-washington-and-california-linked-to-walnuts) [Seattle PCC Market E. coli outbreak linked to Guacamole](https://marlerclark.com/seattle-ppc-market-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-guacamole) [11 with E. coli linked to Raw Milk LLC Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/10-with-e-coli-linked-to-raw-milk-llc-cheese) [Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli Outbreak sickens 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [E. coli Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so... ###### [E. coli O157:H7](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in... ###### [Non-O157 STEC](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least... ###### [Sources of E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/sources-of-e-coli) Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are... ###### [Transmission of and Infection with E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/transmission-of-and-infection-with-e-coli) While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination... ##### Outbreak Database #### Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ View Outbreak Database ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)