FDA Uncovers Serious Health Violations at Colorado Springs Food Processing Plant Tied to Fatal E. Coli Outbreak

Inspectors have found health violations at a Colorado Springs facility linked to an E. coli outbreak in onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. This information comes from a recent report by the FDA.

The outbreak, which occurred in October 2024, sickened at least 49 people across the country, primarily in Colorado. Tragically, one person from Mesa County died, and a woman in Colorado Springs is now suing McDonald’s after she and her daughter fell ill from eating at a local restaurant.

The CDC and FDA traced the infections back to a processing center run by Taylor Farms, a California-based company. Following the outbreak, Taylor Farms recalled yellow onions. However, tests showed that the strain of E. coli linked to the illnesses was not found in the recalled onions—setting the stage for a deeper investigation.

The FDA noted that while they didn’t find the exact strain in the samples, evidence suggested that the recalled onions likely caused the outbreak. Inspectors conducted a follow-up inspection at the Taylor Farms facility two weeks after the outbreak and uncovered several sanitation issues, including:

• Equipment not allowed to air dry after sanitation.
• Production rooms that could encourage the growth of harmful bacteria like Listeria.
• Mistakes in labeling inspections, with some that should have failed marked as passes.
• Mixing of products that shouldn’t be combined, leading to customer complaints.

The report states that during their inspection, several surfaces still had food debris despite repeated cleaning efforts. Inspectors also found that the facility’s methods for identifying potential hazards were inadequate.

Moreover, employees were seen sanitizing their gloved hands instead of properly washing them after touching dirty surfaces. Management acknowledged that many workers often relied solely on hand sanitizer rather than using handwashing stations.

In response to the findings, Taylor Farms stated that they are confident in their food safety practices and have taken immediate steps to address the issues noted in the report. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining the trust of their customers while ensuring the safety and quality of their products.

As of now, the CDC has declared the outbreak over, and the FDA’s investigation has concluded.