A McDonald's Quarter Pounder meal is displayed at a McDonald's restaurant on October 23, 2024. It's important to note that this particular restaurant is not connected to the incident discussed in the story. USA TODAY
A Colorado family is mourning the loss of James Charles Smith, a 72-year-old veteran, who became the first person to die from an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's. Smith, affectionately known as JC, passed away on October 20, after falling ill twice following meals of Quarter Pounders, his favorite McDonald's order. His family, devastated by the tragedy, is speaking out to warn others.
Smith’s daughter, Debbie Bonnell, shared that he had enjoyed eating at McDonald’s, often with his wife, Doris, who had been by his side through both of his illnesses. The first time he got sick was in late September, after eating a Quarter Pounder. He suffered severe symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and diarrhea, and was hospitalized for four days. Tests revealed that Smith had contracted an E. coli infection, but at that point, the outbreak was not widely recognized.
Bonnell reached out to the Mesa County Health Department, who confirmed that there was an outbreak, but no specific warnings were given. “She didn’t tell me not to go out to eat anymore,” Doris Smith said, expressing the family's frustration with the lack of communication. The family continued to trust McDonald's and JC ordered another Quarter Pounder. This time, the illness was far worse, with Smith experiencing excruciating pain. His wife, who had scraped off the onions from her burger, inadvertently shared some with him, leading to his further distress. He was hospitalized once again and died just a few weeks later.
On October 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched an investigation into the outbreak, which they traced to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder, sourced from Taylor Farms, a Colorado facility. The CDC reported that, by October 30, there were 90 confirmed cases of infection in 13 states, with 27 hospitalizations and one death. McDonald’s responded by removing the Quarter Pounder from about 20% of its restaurants but later reintroduced it after confirming that beef patties were not the cause.
Despite the company’s response, the Smith family’s grief is palpable, and they worry about others suffering the same fate. “All he wanted to do was enjoy a hamburger with his wife,” said Bonnell. “He trusted these restaurants, and now we just want our dad back.”
Smith was remembered by his family as a kind, compassionate man. A Marine veteran and former firefighter, Smith had worked for the U.S. Postal Service and had a fulfilling life in Colorado, where he and Doris celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. His daughter said that his death has left a lasting void in their lives, and they are speaking out in the hopes of preventing similar tragedies.
In response, McDonald's CEO Joe Erlinger expressed regret for the outbreak. The company has been working closely with health authorities to understand the cause and ensure its food safety measures are effective. “We are sorry,” Erlinger said, acknowledging the breach of trust with their customers.
The outbreak continues to be investigated, and while McDonald's has taken action, the Smith family hopes their loss will prompt stronger precautions and warnings in the future.
