A high school freshman from Grand Junction, Colorado, was hospitalized after suffering from severe food poisoning, suspected to be linked to E. coli-contaminated McDonald’s burgers.
Fifteen-year-old Kamberlyn Bowler experienced life-threatening complications after eating Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s two to three times over a two week period, around the time an E. coli outbreak was identified in mid-October, according to Associated Press. Due to her serious condition, Kamberlyn was flown to a hospital near Denver, where she underwent ten days of dialysis to help protect her kidneys from further damage.
Kamberlyn’s case is one among at least 75 confirmed in this outbreak, which has led to the hospitalization of 22 individuals in multiple states and one death in Colorado.
The outbreak has been linked to tainted slivered onions used on some McDonald’s products, though investigations continue. For Kamberlyn’s mother, Brittany Randall, the realization that a meal as routine as a hamburger could lead to such severe health consequences has been deeply unsettling.
Randall, who is a jail guard and a single mother of four, wants accountability as her daughter’s infection was caused by E. coli O157:H7, a particularly dangerous strain that produces a toxin potentially leading to severe kidney complications. Medical professionals explain that this toxin can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which damages the kidneys, and, in extreme cases, may require kidney transplants.
Kamberlyn shared that she ate the Quarter Pounders with cheese, extra pickles, and onions on three separate occasions between late September and early October. She had picked them up in passing between school activities.
A few days after her last meal with the burger, she began to feel unwell, experiencing fever, nausea, vomiting, and intense stomach cramps. Recalling the experience, Kamberlyn described feeling extremely weak and unable to eat or drink properly, relying on Popsicles as her main source of sustenance.
Initially, her mother believed it might be a typical stomach flu. However, when Kamberlyn reported finding blood in her stool and urine and later vomiting blood, Randall knew the situation was more serious.
Kamberlyn was initially brought to a local hospital on October 11, where doctors suspected a minor stomach infection and recommended she stay hydrated at home. When her symptoms worsened Kamberlyn returned to the emergency room six days later where tests revealed acute kidney failure. She was then flown to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora for more intensive care.
Chris Kempczinski, McDonald’s CEO, expressed his concern about the outbreak during a recent investor call, stating, “Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers.” He acknowledged the distressing reports of affected customers, calling it “deeply concerning.”
Kamberlyn’s mother remains concerned about her daughter’s future health and the mounting medical bills, noting the financial pressure on her family as she navigates her daughter’s uncertain recovery.
Kamberlyn and her family are now represented by Houston-based Ron Simon & Associates, a national food safety law firm, that has filed multiple lawsuits against McDonald’s over the outbreak.
In a statement issued Monday, attorney Ron Simon said, “This sort of illness is as preventable as it is tragic. Our team will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered from this outbreak.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to work with federal and state partners to identify the source of the E. coli contamination in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.
