Meal kits and Green Giant brand onions among the latest salmonella outbreak recalls
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue an investigation into a multistate outbreak of salmonella infections linked to whole, fresh onions.
Three new recalls were added for several companies that sold recalled onions or products containing the potentially affected onions. As of Oct. 27, the additions are:
EveryPlate was tipped by one of its ingredient suppliers that its onions may be contaminated with salmonella. The company is recalling onions that were distributed from July 7 to Sept. 8. These onions should be discarded. Or, EveryPlate notes, thoroughly cooking the onions to 165 degrees will kill the salmonella bacteria.
Onions received after Sept. 8 are OK, the company said. Product codes and dates are printed on the bottom square of the box’s shipping label.
HelloFresh was similarly informed by one of its ingredient suppliers about the onion recall and the dates are also July 7-Sept. 8.
Potandon Produce of Idaho Falls, Idaho, has recalled Green Giant Fresh whole yellow onions in 2-pound bags, 3-pound bags and 5-pound bags. Also, whole white onions in 2-pound bags and whole red onions in 2-pound bags delivered directly to three retail distribution centers in Fargo, North Dakota; Bismarck, North Dakota and Hopkins, Minnesota between July 9 and Aug 6, 2021.
This recall doesn’t affect any other Green Giant Fresh products or include any Green Giant canned or frozen vegetable products, according to the FDA.
The recalled onions were sourced from ProSource Produce.
Have questions? Call Potandon’s recall coordinator between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain time at 800-637-8084 or visit the company’s website at www.potandon.com.
Onions related to the outbreak
Earlier this month, the FDA and CDC linked the national salmonella outbreak to fresh, whole onions imported by several companies. The agencies named ProSource Produce of Idaho and Keeler Family Farms of New Mexico. Both imported onions from Chihuahua, Mexico, between July 1 and Aug. 27 that were said to be “potentially contaminated.”
Where the onions were distributed
So far, 37 states. Florida is noted to have had between one and five people affected by the outbreak, according to the CDC’s map, as of Oct. 19.
In addition to Florida, the onions were distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Canadian provinces Ontario and Quebec.
They were sold in sacks of 50, 25, 10, 5, 3 and 2 pounds and cartons of 50, 40, 25, 10 and 5 pounds. Nine brands are involved.
What you should do
If you’re a consumer and you don’t know if the onions in your house are from Chihuahua, Mexico, via ProSource, Keeler, EveryPlate, HelloFresh and Potandon, toss them. If your grocer can’t tell you if their onions are among the recalled, avoid the purchase. And, at restaurants, when that appetizer house salad arrives, it might be prudent to ask if the onions swaddled among the greens are from these sources before you crunch on the otherwise healthy, vitamin rich antioxidants.
What is salmonella?
According to the CDC, salmonella strikes 1.35 million Americans each year, hospitalizes about 26,500 and kills 420. Some groups are more at risk for salmonella’s more serious effects, including are senior citizens, children 5 and younger and those with damaged immune systems.
Symptoms of salmonella include fever, vomiting, stomachaches and diarrhea that can start around 12 to 72 hours after eating the tainted food and runs for four to seven days.
This story was originally published October 28, 2021 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Meal kits and Green Giant brand onions among the latest salmonella outbreak recalls."
