Additional Onion Brands Recalled Amid Major Salmonella Outbreak

Green Giant brand onions obtained through ProSource were also recalled. They were sold to distribution centers in North Dakota and Minnesota between July 9 and Aug. 6 as whole yellow onions in 2-, 3-, and 5-pound bags; whole white onions in 2-pound bags; and whole red onions in 2-pound bags. The company said that the effected onions are past their typical shelf life, but consumers should refer to the press release for specific lot codes and labels.

Additionally, Keeler Family Farms voluntarily recalled its red, yellow and white onions sold under the MVP brand that were shipped from July 1 to Aug. 25 and imported from Chihuahua, Mexico. Although to date no onions marketed through Keeler Family Farms have tested positive for salmonella, the recall is being implemented out of an abundance of caution. Its onions, sold in 25 and 50 pound mesh sacks, were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants and retail stores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the recall notice.

Other onions sold by the meal kit companies HelloFresh and EveryPlate were recalled, but the announcements did not indicate if they were sourced from ProSource or imported through Chihuahua, Mexico. Both companies advised its consumers to discard all onions received between July 7 and Sept. 8. Refer to the recall notices for the affected product codes.

Advice for consumers 

• Throw away onions with stickers or packaging that says “product of Mexico” and that says they are from Keeler Family Farms, ProSource Inc. or one of its brands.
• If you can’t tell where the onions are from, don’t eat or buy them.
• Wash surfaces and containers that contaminated onions may have touched with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.

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States where sick people lived

Symptoms of a salmonella infection

Adults ages 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for severe salmonella illness. Infections caused by the bacteria lead to about 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the U.S. annually, the CDC says. Tainted food is the primary cause of these illnesses.

Those who contract salmonellosis, the intestinal infection caused by the bacteria, typically experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. In severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the intestines. Although symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last up to seven days, in some instances, they appear weeks after infection or persist for weeks, say the CDC.

Infections are diagnosed with a lab test. Although most people can recover without an antibiotic, one is recommended for anyone with a severe illness. Antibiotics are also recommended for infected adults older than 65 (or over 50 if an underlying condition such as heart disease is present), infants, and those with weakened immune systems. Most people recover from salmonellosis in four to seven days.

Call your health care provider if you experience any of these severe symptoms:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees
• Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
• Bloody diarrhea
• Struggling to keep liquids down due to vomiting repeatedly
• Signs of dehydration, such as not urinating much, feeling dizzy when standing up, or dry mouth and throat
  

Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English.