Liz M.
1/5
An FDA inspection of a Taylor Farms facility in Colorado, a supplier of onions for McDonald's, uncovered numerous violations following a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to the fast-food chain.
Taylor Farms, known for providing 'prep-less kitchen solutions' to restaurants, supplied 'slivered onions' to McDonald's across several states and also produces ready-to-eat salads for grocery stores.
The inspection report, obtained by CBS News through a Freedom of Information Act request, highlighted findings that led to the issuance of a Form 483, a list of citations concerning potential health hazards.
FDA inspectors found multiple instances of poor sanitation at the Taylor Farms facility in Colorado Springs. Despite claims that cleaning procedures had been followed, inspectors discovered equipment with significant biofilm and food debris buildup.
The inspection report showed that Taylor Farms' quality control team approved cleaning procedures even when inspectors identified visibly unclean food contact surfaces.
This failure presented a significant risk of cross-contamination, as highlighted by a complaint from another company that found onion pieces in their green pepper product.
The FDA report also suggested that workers were not following proper sanitation protocols, raising concerns about potential hygiene issues.
Staff at the McDonald's supplier 'occasionally' used hand sanitizer when handling ready-to-eat (RTE) food, the FDA claimed. The sanitizer was applied to their gloved hands, but there were apparent lapses in consistency.
