CNN
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Fresh-cut onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders were the likely source of an E. coli outbreak that has resulted in death and illness in more than a dozen states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Administration said Wednesday for Food and Medicines.

Additional cases associated with the outbreak have also been reported, bringing the total number of illnesses to 90 and hospitalizations to 27. However, the CDC notes that the current risk to the public is “very low” because the reported illnesses occurred before those affected. onions have been removed from food service locations.

“It is not necessary to avoid eating onions or other foods made with onions,” the CDC said said.

Last week, supplier Taylor Farms issued a recall of four onion products due to “potential E. coli contamination.” McDonald’s stores in the affected areas have temporarily stopped using chopped onions, and other fast food restaurants that received onions from this supplier – including Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC – have proactively removed fresh onions from their menus them in some locations.

The recalled onions are not likely to reach grocery stores or directly to consumers, the CDC said Wednesday. Also, the diced onion used at McDonald’s has not been linked to this outbreak, according to the FDA.

The beef used in the Quarter Pounders was also part of the investigation, which began on October 22. But the Colorado Department of Agriculture said On Sunday, McDonald’s fresh beef patties used for the Quarter Pounder tested negative for E. coli, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Monday that evidence does not point to ground beef as a likely source of E. coli. epidemic.

McDonald’s announced on Sunday, they will resume selling Quarter Pounders in all restaurants this week, but the 900 restaurants that previously received sliced ​​onions from Taylor Farms would not include the onions on these sandwiches.