Healthcare News Recap 10/25/24

McDonald's Recall

Just a few days after the announcement of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders, a company that supplies onions for the burgers has reported a recall for its diced, peeled, and whole onions.

The onions obtained from Taylor Farms in Colorado have been recognized by McDonald's as the source of the outbreak. This situation has already impacted 49 people across 10 states, leading to one death and hospitalizing 10 others.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of reported illnesses have occurred in Colorado and Nebraska, with one child experiencing a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

However, the CDC noted the outbreak could eventually extend beyond the affected states.

McDonald's has halted the use of onions and quarter-pound beef patties in several states as the investigation continues, according to the CDC.

Walmart adds Pharmacy to its Delivery Service

• Responding to a significant customer demand, Walmart announced on Tuesday that it is broadening its same-day delivery service to encompass prescription medications.
• Customers will eventually have the ability to receive prescriptions delivered in as little as 30 minutes or within a few hours.
• This service is currently available in six states: Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, with plans to extend to 49 states by the end of January.
• Through this program, customers can order prescriptions, grocery items, or a combination of both for delivery. Walmart+ members, who pay an annual fee of $98 for various benefits, will enjoy free pharmacy delivery, while non-Walmart+ members will be charged $9.95.

Waffle Recall

A recall involving hundreds of frozen waffle products and various toaster foods sold in multiple U.S. grocery stores has been expanded due to concerns over potential listeria contamination.

TreeHouse Foods Inc., located in Oak Brook, Illinois, announced that this expanded recall includes all items produced at a facility in Ontario, Canada, which were distributed to retailers like Albertson's, Aldi, Dollar General, Kroger, Publix, Target, Walmart, and others. The recall specifically affects frozen toaster waffles, Belgian waffles, and pancakes, as reported by the company.

The organization is working closely with food safety regulators in both the U.S. and Canada to resolve the issue. The affected waffles are sold under various brands, including Walmart's Great Value and Target's Good & Gather. Consumers are advised to either discard the products or return them to the stores for a refund.

On October 18, TreeHouse officials announced a limited recall after routine testing identified listeria at their factory in Brantford, Ontario. Further testing indicated that additional production lines at the facility may also be contaminated. As a result, production has been halted, and the company intends to resume operations after implementing measures such as deep cleaning, sanitation, hygienic restoration, and other essential procedures.

According to its website, the company operates 26 facilities across the U.S. and Canada that produce private-label foods and beverages. Officials confirmed that no other plants were affected by this issue.