At A Glance
- Who Does This Lawsuit Affect?
People who got sick with E. coli O157:H7 after eating a McDonald's Quarter Pounder in the fall of 2024, and families of anyone who died. The CDC counted 104 illnesses in 14 states, with most cases in Colorado.
- What Is Going On with the McDonald's E. coli Lawsuit?
Many individual injury lawsuits were filed against McDonald's and onion supplier Taylor Farms, plus proposed class actions in Illinois and California. At least one case has settled privately. There is no class settlement.
- What Could I Get From the McDonald's E. coli Lawsuit?
Food poisoning claims are valued one person at a time. Victims can seek medical bills, lost pay and pain and suffering. Cases involving kidney failure (HUS) or a death are worth the most.
- Can I File a McDonald's E. coli Lawsuit?
Possibly, but time is short. Colorado and several other states give you two years, so many deadlines for illnesses in September and October 2024 have now passed. Talk to a food safety lawyer immediately.
- How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
Most food poisoning lawyers work on contingency. You pay nothing up front, and the fee is a share of any settlement or verdict, often around one third.
McDonald's Faces Food Poisoning Lawsuits Over E. coli in Quarter Pounder Onions
In the fall of 2024, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders sickened 104 people in 14 states, sent 34 to the hospital and killed an older adult in Colorado. Four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a dangerous kidney complication. Investigators traced the outbreak to fresh slivered onions supplied by Taylor Farms from its Colorado Springs facility.
The first lawsuit was filed on October 23, 2024, when Colorado resident Eric Stelly sued McDonald’s in Cook County, Illinois, where the company is headquartered. Many more injury suits followed against McDonald’s, Taylor Farms and local franchise operators. Stelly’s case was reported settled in August 2025 on confidential terms.
McDonald’s and Taylor Farms have not admitted fault. The CDC and FDA declared the outbreak over on December 3, 2024.
Important McDonald’s E. coli lawsuit update
As of October 28, 2026, there is no class action settlement and no claim form for the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak. Compensation comes through individual injury claims, and the two year filing deadline in Colorado and several other states has now passed for most illnesses from September and October 2024. If you were sick, speak with a lawyer now about whether any exception applies. Ignore anyone who asks you to pay to join a “settlement”. See our guide to class action settlement scams.
Who Is Being Sued in the McDonald's E. coli Lawsuit?
Most suits name McDonald’s Corporation, which sold the Quarter Pounders. Many also name the onion supplier and the local businesses that distributed the food or ran the restaurants.
The defendants include:
- McDonald's Corporation: Accused of selling contaminated food and failing to protect customers.
- Taylor Farms (Taylor Fresh Foods): Supplied the fresh slivered onions from its Colorado Springs facility and recalled yellow onions on October 25, 2024.
- Mile Hi Foods: A distributor to McDonald's restaurants, named in a Mesa County, Colorado suit.
- King Ventures: A Colorado McDonald's franchise operator, named in the same Mesa County suit.
Who Is Eligible to Sue Over the McDonald's E. coli Outbreak?
Because there is no settlement fund, eligibility depends on whether you can prove an individual claim. Illness onset dates in the outbreak ran from September 12 to October 21, 2024.
What Circumstances Might Be Relevant?
- You ate a Quarter Pounder at McDonald's in September or October 2024, mainly in Colorado or a nearby western state where cases were reported.
- You developed symptoms such as severe cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) or vomiting within about a week.
- A lab test confirmed E. coli O157:H7, ideally matched to the outbreak strain by your health department.
- You were hospitalized, developed HUS or kidney problems, or lost a family member.
- You still have receipts, card statements or app orders showing the purchase.
A confirmed lab result linked to the outbreak is the strongest proof. People who were sick but never tested can still talk to a lawyer, but their claims are harder to prove.
What Is the McDonald’s E. coli Lawsuit About?
The lawsuits say McDonald’s served food contaminated with a dangerous strain of E. coli and that the onions should never have reached customers. Under product liability law, a company that sells contaminated food can be held responsible even if it did not know about the contamination.
Inspections after the outbreak added weight to the claims against Taylor Farms. FDA inspectors who visited the Colorado Springs facility from October 28 to November 12, 2024 reported sanitation failures, including biofilm on equipment, improper sanitizer use and missing sanitation records. State inspection records also showed Listeria found in drains and floors in 2023 and 2024, and standing water in the plant.
Lab testing never found the outbreak strain in a food sample, which defendants may use in their defense. Investigators relied on illness patterns and supply chain tracing, which pointed to the onions rather than the beef patties.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Illnesses | 104 in 14 states |
| Hospitalizations | 34 |
| HUS cases | 4 |
| Deaths | 1 (Colorado) |
| Source | Fresh slivered onions from Taylor Farms, Colorado Springs |
| Outbreak declared over | December 3, 2024 |
What Laws Are Involved?
Food poisoning cases are usually built on state injury law rather than a single federal statute.
The main legal claims include:
- Strict product liability: Sellers of defective, unsafe food can be liable without proof of carelessness.
- Negligence: Claims that McDonald's or its suppliers failed to use reasonable care in handling food.
- Breach of implied warranty: Food sold to the public is expected to be safe to eat.
- Wrongful death: Lets families recover when an outbreak victim dies.
- Consumer protection claims: Raised in a proposed class action in the Northern District of Illinois alleging McDonald's failed to disclose the risk.
What Have Similar E. coli Cases Paid?
Food poisoning settlements are usually confidential, so public figures are rare. The best known E. coli case is the 1993 Jack in the Box outbreak, where one child who suffered severe kidney and brain damage, Brianne Kiner, received a reported $15.6 million settlement. Most claims from milder illnesses settle for far less.
Companies can also face government penalties. Chipotle agreed in 2020 to pay a $25 million federal criminal fine over foodborne illness outbreaks linked to its restaurants. That money went to the government, not to customers.
If you are weighing a claim, our guides to personal injury lawyer costs and how to sue a company explain the process and fees.
Got sick after a Quarter Pounder in fall 2024?
Do not wait. Filing deadlines of two years have passed in several states, but some victims, including children, may still have time. Gather your medical records and speak with a food safety lawyer this week.
What Is Involved in Filing a McDonald's E. coli Claim?
Because there is no claim form, you pursue compensation through your own lawsuit or a negotiated settlement.
- Get your medical records. Request records from every doctor visit, ER trip and hospital stay, including any stool test showing E. coli O157:H7.
- Prove the meal. Find receipts, card statements or McDonald’s app history showing a Quarter Pounder purchase in September or October 2024.
- Check with your health department. Ask whether your case was linked to the outbreak strain through genetic testing.
- Talk to a food safety lawyer. Ask about your state’s deadline and whether any exception applies, such as a minor’s claim.
- Track your losses. Keep a record of bills, missed work and ongoing symptoms.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Attorney
- Is my claim still within my state's statute of limitations?
- Was my illness genetically linked to the outbreak strain?
- Should I sue McDonald's, Taylor Farms or both?
- What percentage is your contingency fee, and who pays the case costs?
How Much Is a McDonald’s E. coli Claim Worth?
Each claim is valued on its own facts. The biggest factors are how sick you were and what the illness cost you.
- Medical costs: ER visits, hospital stays, dialysis and follow up care.
- Lost income: Time off work for you or a parent caring for a sick child.
- Pain and suffering: Physical and emotional harm from the illness.
- Long term harm: HUS can cause lasting kidney damage, which greatly raises claim value.
- Wrongful death: Funeral costs and loss of a loved one.
For how payouts are generally calculated, see settlement payouts explained.
Victims may wish to:
- Contact a lawyer before any remaining deadline runs out.
- Keep every medical bill and receipt in one place.
- Avoid giving recorded statements to an insurance company without advice.
- Check our open class action settlements for claims you can file today.
What Is the Filing Deadline for the McDonald’s E. coli Lawsuit?
There is no single deadline. Each state sets its own personal injury statute of limitations, usually starting from the date you got sick.
Key Dates and Deadlines:
- September 12 to October 21, 2024: Illness onset dates in the outbreak.
- October 22, 2024: CDC announces the outbreak.
- October 23, 2024: First lawsuit filed in Cook County, Illinois.
- October 25, 2024: Taylor Farms recalls yellow onions.
- December 3, 2024: CDC and FDA declare the outbreak over.
- September to October 2026: Two year deadlines expire in Colorado and other two year states.
States with three or four year limits may still allow claims into 2027 or 2028, and children’s claims are often paused until they turn 18. Only a lawyer licensed in your state can confirm your exact deadline.
Outbreak: E. coli O157:H7 linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder onions
Investigated by: CDC, FDA and state health departments
First lawsuit: Stelly v. McDonald’s, Cook County, Illinois, October 23, 2024
Status: Individual cases pending or settled. No class settlement or claim form
Official outbreak notice: CDC outbreak page
You May Also Want to Know
No. As of October 28, 2026, there is no class action settlement or claim form. Victims are paid through individual lawsuits or private settlements.
The CDC counted 104 illnesses in 14 states, 34 hospitalizations, 4 cases of HUS and 1 death.
Investigators traced it to fresh slivered onions on Quarter Pounders, supplied by Taylor Farms from its Colorado Springs facility. Tests of the beef patties came back negative.
It depends on your state. Two year deadlines in Colorado and similar states have passed for most cases, but states with longer limits and claims for children may still be open.
Yes. The first plaintiff, Eric Stelly, reportedly settled with McDonald's in August 2025 on confidential terms. Other cases remain individual.
Yes. Many victims have named Taylor Farms, and some suits also name local distributors and franchise owners. A lawyer can decide which defendants to include.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a complication of E. coli O157:H7 that can cause kidney failure. HUS cases involve the most serious injuries and usually the largest claims.
A positive test for E. coli O157:H7 is the strongest evidence. Without one, a claim is much harder to prove, but a lawyer can still review your medical records.