Colorado has seemingly eliminated one ingredient as a cause for death and illness, as states continue to investigate the source of an E. coli outbreak involving the Quarter Pounder hamburger at dozens of McDonald’s locations. As a result, the Quarter Pounder will begin to return to certain locations.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture announced McDonald’s brand “fresh and frozen beef patties” tested negative for E. coli after its lab analyzed dozens of subsamples.

CDA says it has completed all beef testing and does not anticipate receiving further samples.

Meanwhile, the federal investigation into the deadly E. coli outbreak in Colorado has focused on ground beef patties and onions. There continues to be no evidence that onions grown in Colorado are linked to the outbreak.

According to McDonald’s, The 900 restaurants that historically received slivered onions from Taylor Farms’ Colorado Springs facility will resume sales of Quarter Pounders without slivered onions. Those restaurants are in Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah. The restaurant chain also noted it has stopped getting onions from that facility indefinitely.

“The issue appears to be contained to a particular ingredient and geography, and we remain very confident that any contaminated product related to this outbreak has been removed from our supply chain and is out of all McDonald’s restaurants,” McDonald’s North American Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña said in a statement Sunday

Since the outbreak was first announced, CBS News Colorado confirmed one older man on the Western Slope died after consuming a Quarter Pounder from a McDonald’s location in the state. Initial information also confirmed more than two dozen people had become ill due to E. coli-affected Quarter Pounders.

Nationwide, this outbreak has sickened 75 people in more than a dozen states, but Colorado remains the only state impacted that has experienced a death due to it. 

The Colorado Department of Public Health says there have been 26 cases reported in nine different Colorado counties, and they are located in several different parts of the state:

• Arapahoe County
• Chaffee County
• El Paso County
• Gunnison County
• Larimer County
• Mesa County
• Routt County
• Teller County
• Weld County

The illnesses were reported between the last days of September and through Oct. 11. An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into the outbreak is ongoing.

McDonald’s company leaders previously said they’ve taken Quarter Pounders off the menu in states where there have been outbreaks.

Following a rigorous four-week trial, the highly anticipated $24.6 billion merger proposal between Kroger and Albertsons—the two largest grocery chains in Colorado—now rests in the hands of Denver District Court Judge Andrew Luxen. The upcoming ruling is expected to set a critical precedent for antitrust law and could have sweeping effects beyond Colorado.

In February, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a lawsuit to prevent the merger, alleging it would infringe on state antitrust laws and pose “substantial harm” to both consumers and grocery workers across the state. According to Colorado News, Weiser’s office has voiced concerns that the deal could consolidate grocery options to an unhealthy extent, particularly affecting rural and mountain communities that already have limited access to food retail.

The core of the legal clash centers on Kroger’s acquisition of Albertsons, a move the grocery giant has justified as a necessary strategy to compete against large national retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Amazon, which have steadily increased their footprint in the grocery sector. Matt Wolf, an attorney representing Kroger, argued that the merger would result in benefits for Colorado shoppers, including “lower prices, higher pay for union and non-union associates alike, and cleaner, better-stocked stores for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans.”

“While Walmart and Costco and Amazon might be pleased with the state’s efforts today, grocery shoppers in Colorado will pay more and get less if the state has its way,” Wolf said during the closing arguments.

Kroger, headquartered in Ohio, and Albertsons, based in Idaho, collectively operate nearly 5,000 grocery locations across the U.S. and view this merger as a crucial countermeasure to the massive scale of retail giants outside the traditional grocery sphere. However, labor unions, consumer advocates, and Weiser’s team caution that further consolidation could lead to diminished competition, thereby raising prices, reducing wages, and eroding worker bargaining power.

Per Colorado News, one of the contentious points in court was the proposed divestiture plan by Kroger and Albertsons. To alleviate antitrust concerns, the companies have offered to sell 579 stores, including 91 Safeway stores in Colorado, to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based company with limited retail experience. C&S, primarily a wholesaler with just 23 grocery stores nationally, would be tasked with maintaining competition in markets where Kroger and Albertsons currently operate.

Colorado’s Grocery Workers Unite to Oppose $24.6 Billion Supermarket Merge

Critics argue that C&S lacks the capacity to stand up to the dominant Kroger-Albertsons combination, drawing comparisons to the ill-fated 2015 divestiture following Albertsons’ merger with Safeway. In that instance, the Haggen grocery chain acquired 168 stores but quickly went bankrupt, leading to the eventual reacquisition of many of these locations by Albertsons.

State attorney Arthur Biller voiced strong opposition to the divestiture plan, claiming C&S would be a “weaker competitor” unable to fulfill the critical role of maintaining competition. Biller cited testimony suggesting that up to 85 of the 91 divested stores in Colorado could be at risk of closing if the merger proceeds, a scenario that would further reduce grocery options in the state.

“It is in Kroger’s interest to have the weakest possible divestiture plan,” Biller argued, adding that the merger is less about competition with Amazon or Costco than it is about “eliminating Albertsons from the market and replacing it with a far inferior competitor.”

The lawsuit and trial followed a yearlong investigation by Weiser’s office, which included over a dozen listening sessions across Colorado. Concerns were particularly high in mountain towns and rural areas, where residents fear the loss of one of their few grocery options could result in higher prices and travel distances for essentials. The outcome of this trial could also have ripple effects nationally, influencing how similar mergers are handled in an era marked by rising concerns over corporate consolidation.

Source: Colorado News

The Colorado Buffaloes opened the second half with a spark, ignited by sophomore running back Isiah Augustave’s dash into the endzone, extending their lead to 31-14. This touchdown came after a frustrating start to the half, with the offense initially stalled on its opening drive. However, the Buffs regrouped and executed a successful drive that re-energized their momentum.

The drive began with a short gain by Augustave, setting the stage for what would be a methodical yet effective march down the field. Just minutes later, quarterback Shedeur Sanders connected with wide receiver LaJohntay Wester for an impressive 28-yard pass, propelling the Buffs into the red zone. This pivotal play showcased Sanders’ precision and Wester’s athleticism, as they collaborated to place the Buffs in prime scoring territory. The 62-yard drive, completed in six plays, culminated with Augustave’s determined touchdown run, a critical score that solidified Colorado’s control over the game.

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Despite the excitement, a tense moment arose when Sanders walked off the field slowly after the touchdown, greeted by trainers on the sideline. His health has been a focal point for the Buffs, who rely heavily on his leadership and playmaking ability. Reports indicated that Sanders was expected to return, bringing relief to the team and fans at Folsom Field.

With this score, the Buffs aimed to build on the positive momentum and set their sights on achieving their sixth win of the season. The drive encapsulated their resilience and determination to close out the second half strong, as they looked to maintain their standing and keep their season aspirations alive.