McDonald's customer files first lawsuit over E. Coli outbreak

A McDonald’s customer filed the first lawsuit against the fast food chain on Wednesday in connection with an E. coli outbreak linked to the chain’s Quarter Pounder.

Eric Stelly, who filed the suit in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois, ate food from McDonald's Greeley, Colorado, location on Oct. 4 and two days later began experiencing nausea, stomach cramps and dehydration – all symptoms of E. coli poisoning.

On Oct. 8, Stelly sought medical attention and doctors confirmed that he had E. coli poisoning.

“Through this lawsuit and others, we will make sure that all of the victims are fully compensated for their losses, that their voices are heard, and that McDonald's and its suppliers permanently fix the health violations that caused the food to become contaminated with E. coli,” Ron Simon, the attorney representing Stelly, said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that Quarter Pounders sold at McDonald’s locations across the country may have been contaminated with E. coli.

The CDC said at least 49 people have contracted E. coli, including one person who has died and 10 who have been hospitalized.

Most of the illnesses have been reported in Nebraska (9), Colorado (27), along with eight other states. The one death was described as an older resident living in Colorado.

The CDC and McDonald’s have yet to determine which ingredient is contaminated and responsible for the outbreak.

Officials are also working to determine if the contaminated ingredients were sent to any other restaurants or businesses.

McDonald’s has removed slivered onions and beef patties, both ingredients for the Quarter Pounder, in some states, including Colorado and Nebraska.

E. coli infection symptoms can include severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, high fever, dehydration, an inability to keep liquids down and dizziness.

While most people recover without treatment after about a week, E. coli can produce the potentially deadly “Shiga toxin,” which could cause a person to develop serious kidney problems that require hospitalization.

According to a news release, Stelly is still recovering from his E. coli illness.