Thomson International Inc. based in Bakersfield, California is recalling red, yellow, white and sweet yellow onions that were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada from May 1, 2020 to the present. The onions are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating the multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that may be linked to these onions.
As of July 30, 396 people had been reported infected with the Salmonella outbreak in 34 states, 59 of whom were hospitalized, the CDC reported.
On July 10, the initial Salmonella outbreak was detected in three states and public health officials established that a large number of the infected people had consumed red onions. They identified Thomson International, Inc. of Bakersfield, California as the likely source of the red onions.
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Because of the way onions are grown and harvested, other types of onions, such as white, yellow, or sweet yellow, can also be contaminated, CDC warned, which is why Thomson International Inc. announced the recall of this product.
The Onions Recalled
The onions were distributed in 5 lbs. carton. 10 lbs. carton. 25 lbs. carton. 40 lbs. carton, 50 lbs. carton. bulk, 2 lb. mesh sacks, and 3 lb. mesh sacks, 5 lb. mesh sacks, 10 lb. mesh sacks 25 lbs. mesh sacks, 50 lbs. mesh sacks under the brand names Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions and Food Lion.
Consumers, restaurants and retailers should not eat, sell or serve red, white, yellow or sweet onions from Thomson International, Inc. or products containing such onions, the FDA said. If you can’t tell if your onion is from Thomson International Inc. or if your food product contains such onions, you should not eat, sell or serve it and should throw it away, health officials said.
The states where cases of Salmonella Newport have been reported are AK (6), AZ (14), CA (49), CO (10), FL (3), ID (5), IL (10), IN (2), IA (15), KS (1), KY (1), ME (4), MD (1), MI (23), MN (10), MO (6), MT (33), NE (5), NV (5), NY (4), NC (3), ND (5), OH (7), OR (71), PA (2), SC (1), SD (11), TN (5), TX (1), UT (61), VA (4), WA (2), WI (5), and WY (11).
Symptoms of Salmonella infection
- Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
- The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
- In some people, the illness can be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Salmonella infection can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other places in the body.
- Children under age 5, adults over age 65, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe disease.