A viral post shared on Threads claims McDonald’s E. coli outbreak followed 2024 Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to a Pennsylvania franchise.

 

Post by @greenemachine1970

View on Threads

 

Verdict: False

Illnesses related to McDonald’s current E. coli outbreak began on Sept. 27, according to the U.S. Food and Drug and Administration. (FDA)’s website. Trump visited a Pennsylvania McDonald’s franchise on Oct. 20, The Associated Press reported.

Fact Check:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently identified 15 new cases of E. coli linked to the McDonald’s outbreak, according to USA Today. The agency also announced five new hospitalizations related to the outbreak, the outlet reported.

The Threads post, which has garnered over 10,000 likes as of writing, claims McDonald’s E. coli outbreak followed Trump’s recent visit to a Pennsylvania franchise.

“He ‘worked’ 1 hour at a closed McDonald’s and now there’s an E. Coli outbreak. Everything he touches dies,” the post, which does not provide a source to support its claim, reads.

The claim is false. According to the FDA’s website, illnesses related to McDonald’s current E. coli outbreak began on September 27. A total of 90 people from 13 states have been infected with E. coli as of October 30, with 62 people reporting that they had eaten at McDonald’s.

While 48 out of 58 people reported they had eaten a menu item with fresh, slivered onions, 46 out of 58 people reported they had eaten a menu item made with fresh quarter-pound beef patties, the FDA indicated.

Likewise, an Oct. 30 food alert issued by the CDC named fresh, slivered onions and “other menu items” as the likely source of the outbreak. Reuters also reported fresh, slivered onions as the probable culprit behind the outbreak.

In addition, The Associated Press reported Trump visited a McDonald’s franchise in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania on Oct. 20, nearly a month after illnesses began. While at the franchise, the former President and 2024 Republican nominee made fries and held a press conference from the fast food restaurant’s drive-through window, the outlet indicated. (RELATED: Did Donald Trump Make A ‘Rally Cry’ To The UK?)

McDonald’s also has not issued a press release or a social media statement linking its E. coli outbreak to Trump’s visit to the Pennsylvania-based franchise. Furthermore, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Oct. 30, Lead Stories debunked the claim.

Check Your Fact has contacted McDonald’s for comment.