McDonald’s Onion Supplier Faces E. Coli Outbreak Class Action

Taylor Fresh Foods Inc., a supplier of yellow onions used in McDonald’s Corp.'s Quarter Pounders, failed to tell customers about the risk of E. coli in its products, a consumer class action alleged.

“Consumers expect the food they purchase to be safe for consumption and not contaminated by harmful bacteria,” the complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California said. “Other manufacturers formulate, produce, and sell non-harmful foods including onions, which is evidence that the risk inherent with Defendant’s Products is demonstrably avoidable.”

Lead plaintiff Trevor Keene seeks to represent a nationwide consumer class and brings claims for unjust enrichment, breach of warranties, fraudulent concealment, failure to warn, design defect, and negligence. He is asking for damages.

Keene’s lawsuit follows a similar class action complaint filed against McDonald’s for selling Quarter Pounders that were contaminated with E. coli.

Nearly 50 people across 10 states became sick from the outbreak. McDonald’s recalled the burger from a fifth of its stores after the supplier, which does business as Taylor Farms, recalled some yellow onion batches.

The fast-food chain brought Quarter Pounders back to its menu in all stores by the the end of October after it ruled out beef patties as the source of the outbreak.

Taylor Farms didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.

Yanni Law APC and Poulin Willey Anastopoulo LLC represent the consumers in the suit against Taylor Farms.

The case is Keene v. Taylor Fresh Foods Inc., N.D. Cal., No. 7:24-cv-07981, complaint filed 11/14/24.