After an E. coli outbreak, McDonald’s stopped selling the Quarter Pounder in 12 states. The burger might take a hit for now, but its hold on customers will prevail, experts say.

The McDonald's Quarter Pounder is part of a "classics" menu that drives huge sales. The giant says it's temporarily pulling the item from menus.

The size and span of the outbreak is likely larger than currently known. One person is dead and 48 others across 10 states have been sickened in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that appears to be linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders and the slivered onions used on the burgers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.