Outbreak linked to popular McDonald’s item in the US

A deadly outbreak stemming from a fast food favourite has killed one person in the US, as it works to determine what is causing the illness.

A deadly outbreak stemming from a fast food favourite has killed one person and made almost 50 other people sick.

An E.coli outbreak has been traced back to Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s impacting 10 different states in the US with Nebraska and Colorado at the centre.

News.com.au understands there are no concerns about Australian versions of the fast food chain.

E.coli is a group of bacteria found in the gut of nearly all people and animals, and some can cause minor illnesses such as food poisoning or urinary tract infections lasting up to 10 days.

An E.coli outbreak has been linked to Quarter Pounders. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

But, more serious strains of the bacteria can cause illnesses like pneumonia, meningitis in newborns and inflammation of the gall bladder.

So far, 49 people have fallen sick and 10 people have ended up in hospital as a result. One man has died.

“Most people in this outbreak are reporting eating the Quarter Pounder hamburger at McDonald’s before becoming sick. It is not yet known which specific food ingredient is contaminated,” a food alert from the United States Centre for Disease Control said.

“McDonald’s is collaborating with investigation partners to determine what food ingredient in Quarter Pounders is making people sick.”

While the company and CDC works to determine what is causing the outbreak, it has stopped using fresh slivered onions and Quarter Pounder meat in several states.

It’s impacted 10 states in the US. Picture: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

It comes as presidential candidate Donald Trump took the chance for a good photo opportunity and donned an apron to serve at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania last week.

But, it wasn’t all that it appeared to be. The restaurant was closed and customers were pre-screened by the US Secret Service, the Washington Post reported.

The publication also reported that customers didn’t actually place an order but just accepted whatever was handed to them.

A sign had been put up at the franchise informing locals that the restaurant would be closed until 4pm, and apologising for the inconvenience.

The note said that while the business was “not a political organisation,” it would “proudly open our doors to everyone” and wanted to use the opportunity to “shine a light on the positive impact of small businesses here in Feasterville”.