Burger King hits out at press over E coli coverage

By Angela Frewin

Burger King is furious that media coverage of an E coli study suggested only McDonald's could be trusted to cook burgers well enough to prevent food poisoning.

The two-year study into 85 sporadic cases of E coli by the public health laboratory services in Cardiff and London found 14 of 19 cases linked to burgers could be traced to catering establishments. It visited fast-food and restaurant chains, independent burger bars, burger vans and pubs.

The report, first published in the Lancet, praised one chain, later identified as McDonald's, for cooking burgers on both sides simultaneously for a set and accurately timed period. Another fast-food chain had lacked any timing devices, while a restaurant outlet's pre-set times left burgers pink inside.

Burger King was quick to point out it practised the same techniques as McDonald's and had not been part of the research because, unlike McDonald's, it had had no confirmed E coli cases.

"None of the restaurants looked at in the study had anything to do with Burger King," said a Burger King statement.

The research also found that cold, cooked sliced meats from caterers were more likely to cause infection than those from butchers or general stores.