Entertainment
McDonald's Hamburgers Responsible For Nationwide E. Coli Outbreak
By Brian Myers
| Published
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, specifically the slivered onions and quarter-pound beef patties used in the popular fast food chain, have been linked to an outbreak of E. coli that has been reported in as many as nine states and has affected at least 50 people. One death has been blamed on the bacteria outbreak, which has the majority of its reported cases in the state of Colorado. The Centers for Disease Control is currently investigating the supply chain of the franchise’s ingredients to determine where the contamination is sourced from.
The Danger Of E. Coli
There are numerous strains of E. coli, and most of them are harmless to humans. However, the particular strain of the bacteria found in McDonald’s hamburgers, O157:H7, can be particularly dangerous. The bacteria release a toxin into the bloodstream that damages the intestinal lining, leading to the impacted person passing bloody stools. In many cases, the symptoms will become noticeable between two and five days after the tainted food or drink is ingested and persist for up to seven days afterward.
These symptoms range from mild to severe and include dehydration, fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, and fatigue. The worst cases include damage to the blood cells within the kidneys due to developing a condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome. This can lead to renal failure and possibly death.
The McDonald’s hamburger, which is the suspected culprit, is one of the chain’s most recognizable menu items. The CDC revealed that the people they interviewed after testing positive for E. coli poisoning had eaten a Quarter Pounder. It’s important to know that, while the CDC is testing the beef patties used for this specific sandwich for the bacteria, that the federal agency believes that it’s the slivered onions used on the burger that transmitted the contamination.
However, as beef patties are also known to carry E. coli, no one is taking any chances. The McDonald’s burger patties are being tested as a precaution and were pulled from the stores. The slivered onions that had contamination were short, Julienne-cut slices and not the diced ones used for other sandwiches.
McDonald’s has temporarily ceased selling any Quarter Pounder hamburgers and slivered onions across all the impacted states, but continues to sell its other hamburgers. Aside from Colorado, the staple item was pulled from stores in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Missouri.
A Widespread Problem
The E. coli bacteria isn’t usually severe enough to cause death or even hospitalization. The majority of affected persons recover on their own without any treatment at all, which leads some to speculate that there could well be a good deal more cases in the McDonald’s hamburger outbreak than the reported numbers show. However, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration caution that anyone who has eaten a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder recently and has gotten severely ill should check in with a medical provider.
Additionally, the CDC stated that anyone who might have further questions about the McDonald’s hamburger E. coli outbreak can contact the Health Department of the state in which they live.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
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Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
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Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
