Almost 900 Sick in Salmonella Onion Outbreak
Almost 900 cases of Salmonella have been linked to contaminated onions, the CDC reports. Between the agency’s last update, issued on October 29, and November 12, officials confirmed an additional 84 Salmonella cases in the outbreak linked to contaminated onions. This brings the total case count to 892 cases, reported across 38 states and Puerto Rico. Additionally, the agency reports that 26 of the 84 new cases required hospitalization due to their severity.
The updated Food Safety Alert, issued on November 16, covers data collected through November 12. Confirmed outbreak cases started between May 31 and and October 25, 2021. Sick people range in age from younger than one year old to 101 years, with a median age of 37. In addition, males make up 42% of confirmed cases. 183 cases (32% of those with available information) required hospitalization due to their severity.
Multiple Onion Recalls Initiated due to Salmonella Outbreak
Multiple companies initiated recalls of onions and products containing onions due to the outbreak. Wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia received onions implicated in the Salmonella outbreak.
Keeler Family Farms and ProSource Produce, LLC both issued massive recalls. The companies issued recalls after the FDA identified them as suppliers of the potentially contaminated onions. Further, the FDA posted a list of additional recalls initiated by companies that received the contaminated onions. This list includes recalls by companies that further processed the onions by using them as ingredients in new products or repackaging them. For example, it includes companies such as HelloFresh and EveryPlate, which distributed the onions in meal kits.
The FDA instructs consumers not to eat, sell, or serve recalled onions. Additionally, throw out onions if you cannot determine whether or not they are included in the recall. Onions last up to three months if stored in a cool, dry place, and may still be in storage at restaurants or in consumers’ homes.
The following distributors/brands also supplied potentially contaminated onions: Big Bull, Peak Fresh Produce, Sierra Madre, Markon First Crop, Markon Essentials, Rio Blue, ProSource, Rio Valley, Sysco Imperial, and MVP. The FDA investigation continues, and the agency plans to issue updated information when available.