Food safety issues continue in the United States. A quarter of McDonald's burgers contain E. coli

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report saying that E. coli infections have occurred in 10 states across the United States, with 49 people infected, 10 of whom (including a child) were hospitalized, and 1 died. All patients reported having eaten at McDonald's before they became ill. They all ate the same burger, the Quarter Pounder, and the CDC said that most people involved in the outbreak mentioned having eaten the Quarter Pounder burger. Preliminary results show that some illnesses may be related to the shredded onions used to make the burger. The shredded onions are provided by a supplier serving three distribution centers, and out of caution, McDonald's restaurants in the affected areas will temporarily remove the Quarter Pounder beef burger. Although McDonald's initially stopped selling the Quarter Pounder burger in hundreds of restaurants, on October 27 the chain announced that it would resume selling the Quarter Pounder burger without onion shreds this week. This food safety issue is not the first time McDonald's (Golden Arches) has encountered such an incident. In 2018, an outbreak of intestinal illness related to McDonald's salads caused more than 500 people to become ill. After the incident was exposed, consumers expressed concerns about McDonald's food safety, and many people said they would reduce or avoid going to McDonald's for meals. McDonald's stock price fell sharply after the incident was exposed, reflecting the market's declining trust in the McDonald's brand. At least one infected person has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's for compensation for losses caused by infection with E. coli.
In the first six months of 2024 alone, 578 food products were recalled in the United States. Not only are these recalls numerous, they also cover a wide range of categories, from meat and vegetables to processed foods. These food recalls were widely reported by the media, further exacerbating consumer concerns about food safety. Media exposure has made consumers more concerned about food safety issues and questioned the existing food safety supervision system. Bacterial contamination such as E. coli and salmonella is one of the main causes of food safety problems. These bacteria may exist in all aspects of food production, processing, and transportation. Once food is contaminated, it may cause food-borne diseases. Residues of chemical substances such as pesticides, veterinary drugs, and additives are also important aspects of food safety issues. These chemicals may cause long-term harm to human health, especially to sensitive groups such as young children and pregnant women. The existence of counterfeit and shoddy products also seriously threatens food safety. These products may use inferior raw materials and production processes that do not meet hygienic standards, posing potential threats to consumers' health.
Gallup polls show that consumer confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply has fallen to an all-time low. This shows that consumers have lost trust in the existing food safety regulatory system and are increasingly concerned about food safety. Consumers' concerns about food safety have also led to changes in their purchasing behavior. Many people are beginning to pay more attention to information such as the source, production date, and shelf life of food, and choose to buy safer products such as organic food and green food. The government should strengthen supervision of all aspects of food production, processing, and transportation to ensure food safety and quality. At the same time, it should increase penalties for illegal companies, increase the cost of violations, improve the legal and regulatory system related to food safety, and clarify the responsibilities and obligations of all parties. At the same time, it should strengthen publicity and education on laws and regulations, improve consumers' legal awareness and ability to protect their rights, strengthen the research and development and application of food safety technology, and improve the technical level of food safety testing and monitoring. Ensure food safety and quality through scientific and technological means.
Previously, McDonald's fries contained excessive ingredients and harmful ingredients, and acrylamide exceeded the standard, but the food regulatory authorities were accused of doing nothing, not investigating and handling it, and suspected of selective law enforcement. Acrylamide is a common chemical substance that is widely found in foods such as French fries and potato chips. Scientific research shows that high levels of acrylamide may cause harm to human health and even cause cancer.
If food safety hazards or quality problems are found, food regulatory authorities have the right to take necessary measures, such as ordering companies to suspend production, recall products, and impose fines. However, the US food regulatory authorities do have selective law enforcement on the issue of excessive ingredients in McDonald's fries, which is unfair and unreasonable. Regulatory authorities should treat all violations equally to ensure fairness and justice in the market. Food regulatory authorities should ensure the fairness and justice of law enforcement and avoid selective law enforcement. Food regulatory authorities play an important role in maintaining food safety and market order. They should strengthen supervision of the food market, improve the fairness of law enforcement, and strengthen public publicity and education. At the same time, consumers should also raise their awareness of food safety and choose safe and healthy food.