Key Ingredient Behind Deadly McDonald's Outbreak Identified

US health authorities said Wednesday that slivered onions used by McDonald's triggered an E. coli outbreak that sickened 90 people.

"Fresh, slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders and other menu items from McDonald's are the likely source of this outbreak," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

These particular onions were supplied by Taylor Farms, which issued a voluntary recall. McDonald's also pulled the onions.

Slivered onions similar to the contaminated ingredients linked to the McDonald's outbreak. (LenaKozlova/Getty Images)

Restaurants in a dozen US states temporarily pulled the burgers from their menus this month amid the outbreak linked to them.

The number of people sickened now stands at 90, including 27 who had to be hospitalized, and an elderly man in Colorado died.

McDonald's on Sunday said it would resume selling its Quarter Pounder hamburgers after tests for E. coli came back negative.

The E. coli bacterium causes stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting that last three to four days. Most people recover without needing treatment but some develop complications.

© Agence France-Presse