The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that value meals boosted McDonald's U.S. sales in the third quarter, but an E. coli outbreak linked to Quarter Pounders may affect its recovery in the coming months. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that U.S. same-store sales increased 0.3 per cent from July to September. McDonald's introduced a $5 (U.S.) value meal in late June, attracting lower-income customers and enhancing value perceptions after a disappointing second quarter. The $5 (U.S.) deal was so successful that McDonald's recently extended it to December at most of its U.S. stores. Last week, however, a crisis hit when McDonald's pulled Quarter Pounders off the menu from about 3,000 stores after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration determined that the burger's slivered raw onions were the likely cause of E. coli contamination. The outbreak has killed one person and sickened at least 75 others across 13 states. McDonald's said it has stopped sourcing onions from that supplier and expects to put the Quarter Pounder back on all of its U.S. menus within the week, although it will be served without onions at 900 stores. McDonald's acknowledged that the outbreak hurt its sales momentum.