At least 73 individuals in 22 states have become ill from a salmonella epidemic related to bagged, precut onions, including 15 who were hospitalized, according to U.S. health officials on Tuesday.
A Series of Recalls
Packages of diced yellow, red, and celery onions as well as a mixture of onions, celery, and carrots known as mirepoix have been recalled by Gills Onions of Oxnard, California, as reported by The Associated Press. The use-by dates on the recalled goods were in August 2023.
Consumers may still have them - or meals made with them - in their freezers even if they are no longer available for purchase in shops. Health officials advised against eating, selling, or serving onions for use in meals.
The items containing chopped onions were sent to merchants in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington as well as to food service and other institutions in the United States and Canada.
Retail locations included Stater Bros., Bashas' markets, Smart & Final shops, and Chef's Store in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, as well as Smart & Final and Chef's Store in Arizona.
To identify the cause of the outbreak and see whether any other goods may be linked to illnesses, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are conducting an investigation.
Read also: Eagle Produce Salmonella Contamination Confirmed by FDA-Over 6,500 Cases of Melons Recalled
Not the First Salmonella Outbreak This Year
In May, Papa Murphy's raw chocolate chip cookie and S'mores bar dough was to blame for a salmonella epidemic that has affected 18 people across six states. Hospitalizations for two persons have occurred. No fatalities have been noted.
Twelve of the 14 persons interviewed by health officials about what they ate in the week before they became ill said they had meals from Papa Murphy's, according to the CDC. One of them ate cooked cookies created with the batter, while the other nine had raw cookie or S'mores bar dough.
The CDC reports that Papa Murphy's has temporarily ceased selling the dough. Even if a consumer has eaten any of these items without becoming ill, they should still be thrown away.
The agency advises customers to refrain from consuming any raw dough unless it has been created using specific ingredients and does not require baking. Always adhere to baking instructions found on labels or in recipes.
Serious disease can result from salmonella infection, especially in small children under the age of 5, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems. Symptoms of illness, such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, often appear 12 hours to 3 days after consuming infected food.
Related article: McCormick Recalls Seasoning Products Over Potential Salmonella Contamination; Here is the List of Items to Avoid
