Health officials in the United States say food poisoning linked to hamburgers sold at McDonald's restaurants in some US states has killed one person and sickened dozens of others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, on Tuesday announced the outbreak of food poisoning tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers.

The CDC said 49 people, age 13 to 88, from 10 western and mid-western states complained that they felt sick, and an elderly person in the state of Colorado died.

Health officials said 12 of the 18 people they interviewed as part of an investigation had eaten Quarter Pounder hamburgers before falling ill.

The CDC said the food poisoning was caused by E. coli O157 and most infected people experience symptoms such as severe stomach cramps and diarrhea.

It said the number of cases is likely to rise and that relevant authorities plan to continue the investigation into the outbreak.

McDonald's said on Tuesday the results of its initial investigation suggested slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder hamburgers might have been involved in the food poisoning. The food chain said it has suspended the sale of Quarter Pounders in some states.

McDonald's shares dropped more than 10 percent in after-hours trading before paring losses.