Category Archives: Salmonella in Onions

USA – Alsum Farms Onions Are Recalled For Possible Salmonella Contamination

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Alsum Farms onions are recalled for possible Salmonella contamination, according to an FDA notice. The fresh yellow, white, and red onions were delivered to retailers in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania between July 13, 2021 and August 18, 2021. The onions were imported from Chihuahua, Mexico by Keeler Family Farms. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with onions marketed through Keeler Family Farms. Alsum Farms & Produce is located in Friesland, Wisconsin. You can see all of the secondary onion recalls in association with a multistate Salmonella outbreak here.

USA – Salmonella Outbreak linked to Onions hits nearly 900 in 38 States

Food Poison Journal

Since the last update on October 29, 2021, 84 more sick people were added to this outbreak. As of November 12, 2021, 892 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg have been reported from 38 states and Puerto Rico (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 31, 2021, to October 25, 2021 (see timeline).
Sick people range in age from less than 1 year to 101 years, with a median age of 37, and 58% are female. Of 571 people with information available, 183 (32%) have been hospitalized.

The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

USA – A 30-month Study of 80 Cases of Salmonella Oranienburg Infection

AAP

kswfoodworld Salmonella

A 30-month study is reported of an epidemic of salmonellosis involving 46 newborn infants and 34 older individuals who were contacts and became carriers. A total of 80 persons was involved, all having positive stool cultures for Salmonella sp. (type Oranienburg). Of the total number of infants delivered during the epidemic, the 46 infected infants established an attack rate of 20%. The additional 34 older individuals who were carriers were contacts of the infected infants. The mechanics of contact or mode of pattern of spread could not be completely determined. In the newborn infants response to this infection varied. One infant died, 7 were acutely ill, 33 had symptoms of grossly abnormal stools, 5 had asymptomatic infection and were diagnosed by positive stool cultures alone. With one exception, the older individuals all were asymptomatic and were diagnosed by positive stool cultures. Serologic confirmation of the presence of this specific infection was established by determinations of specific antibodies. These were positive in 9 of 10 infants. In the older individuals, antibody agglutinations were positive in seven of eight so studied. Of the 33 infants followed, all became carriers and at the end of 30 months, cultures of stools of 30 of the total number had become negative for Salmonella sp. (type Oranienburg) and 3 remained positive. Of the 22 older individuals followed, all had cultures negative for Salmonella sp. (type Oranienburg) at the end of 13 months. Therapy was prescribed in six acute cases and all of these patients recovered. Experimental therapy for the carrier state resulted in failure in all cases. A comparison of the group of 20 infants not treated suggested that stools of the untreated patients cleared spontaneously more readily than those who were treated.

Canada – MVP brand yellow onions recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Yellow onions
Issue
Food » Microbial Contamination » Salmonella
What to do

Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute the recalled products

Affected products
Brand Product Size UPC Codes Additional information
MVP Yellow onions 50 lb / 22.7 kg N/A Imported between July 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021 Produce of Mexico

Issue

Industry is recalling MVP brand yellow onions from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The recalled products have been sold in Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

These products may also have been sold in bulk, loose, or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the same brand or product names. The CFIA will continue its investigation and additional recalls may follow.

What you should do

  • If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor
  • Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment
  • Do not consume the recalled products
  • Do not serve, use, sell, or distribute the recalled products
  • Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

USA – Pier-C Produce Inc. Recalls 2 lb White Onions – Product of Mexico Because of Possible Health Risk -Salmonella

FDA

Pier-C Produce Inc. of Leamington, Ontario Canada is voluntarily recalling Mexican Origin, whole 2 lb White Onions supplied from Keeler Family Farms and sold as Pier-C 2lb white onions of Mexican origin. This recall does not affect any other items in the Pier-C Produce Inc. product catalogue.

The recalled product has the potential to be contaminated with SALMONELLA, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with SALMONELLA often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with SALMONELLA can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled product was delivered to a single retailer in the state of Florida between August 17th, 2021 and August 23rd, 2021.

Additionally, the recalled product was also delivered to a single wholesaler in Florida between August 9th, 2021 and August 24th, 2021.

The recalled product will contain the following four identifiers:

Product is packed in 2 lb mesh bags, labelled Product of Mexico and will bear the UPC code 0 33383 60051 2 bearing the brand Pier-C Produce.

To date, no illnesses have been reported. Pier-C Produce Inc. is conducting this recall voluntarily.

On October 22, 2021, Keeler Family farms of Deming, NM voluntarily recalled imported Onions from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico shipped from July 1, 2021 through August 25, 2021 for potential SALMONELLA contamination. In turn, Pier-C Produce Inc. identified white onions originating from the above recalled lots and proceeded to voluntarily recall the white onions as well.

Consumers should check to see if they have the recalled product in their homes or establishments. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased. Consumers with questions identifying the affected product may contact Pier-C Produce Inc. at 888-783-8459, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 4 pm Eastern Time.

USA – Core Investigations Table Update – 4 Ongoing Investigations

FDA

USA – Keeler Family Farms Salmonella Onions Retail List Released

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The FDA has published the Keeler Family Farms Salmonella onions retail distribution list, associated with the huge multistate Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak that has sickened at least 808 people in 37 states. The list is very short, as opposed to the retail distribution list for ProSource Produce onions, which was released a few days ago.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg: Whole, Fresh Onions (October 2021) – Update

FDA

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg in Whole, Fresh Onions - Sample Product Images (October 2021)

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to whole, fresh onions. FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified ProSource Produce, LLC (also known as ProSource Inc.) of Hailey, Idaho, and Keeler Family Farms of Deming, New Mexico, as suppliers of potentially contaminated whole, fresh onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.

On October 29, 2021, the FDA published a list of retail establishments that received product recalled by ProSource Produce LLC. This list represents the best information currently available to the FDA; however, it may not include all retail establishments that have received the recalled product or may include retail establishments that did not actually receive the recalled product. It is important that you use the product-specific information, available on the ProSource Produce LLC recall announcement, in addition to this list of retail stores, when you check the food you have to see if it has been recalled.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and if additional products or firms are linked to illness. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Recommendation

Advice for restaurants, retailers and consumers: Do not eat, sell or serve recalled onions, or products containing recalled onions. All recalled onions were supplied by ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms and imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico between July 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021. FDA has posted a list of additional recalls being conducted by companies that may have received recalled onions from ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms. This list includes recalls conducted by companies that further processed the onions by using them as ingredients in new products or by repackaging them. If you cannot tell if your onions were recalled, do not eat, sell, or serve them and throw them out.

Onions may last up to three months if stored in a cool, dry place. Restaurants, retailers, and consumers who suspect having purchased such onions may still have them in storage and should not eat, sell, or serve them, and should throw them out.

FDA recommends that anyone who received or suspects having received recalled onions use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. This includes cleaning and sanitizing cutting boards, slicers, countertops, refrigerators, displays, and storage bins.

Suppliers and Distributors: Do not use, ship, or sell recalled onions. Suppliers and distributors that repackage raw onions should clean, rinse, sanitize, and air dry any surfaces and storage areas that may have come into contact with these products.  Farms and firms within the supply chain of recalled onions, including shippers, distribution centers, retailers and restaurants, should immediately clean and sanitize all food contact surfaces and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and tools that the onions may have touched or that may have become contaminated, including refrigerators, counter tops, storage shelving, trucks or other transportation carriers, etc. If there has been potential cross contamination or mixing of onions from other sources with these products, suppliers and distributors should discard all comingled and potentially cross-contaminated product.

Recall Information

FDA published a list of retail establishments that received product recalled by ProSource Produce LLC. This list represents the best information currently available to the FDA; however, it may not include all retail establishments that have received the recalled product or may include retail establishments that did not actually receive the recalled product. It is important that you use the product-specific information, available on the ProSource Produce LLC recall announcement, in addition to this list of retail stores, when you check the food you have to see if it has been recalled.

FDA has posted a list of additional recalls being conducted by companies that may have received recall onions from ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms. This list includes recalls conducted by companies that further processed the onions by using them as ingredients in new products or by repackaging them.

ProSource Produce LLC has voluntarily recalled red, yellow, and white onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with import dates from July 1, 2021, through August 31, 2021. Additional descriptors used for these onion types may include, but are not limited to, jumbo, colossal, medium, summer and sweet onions. Additional recall information will be made public as soon as it is available from ProSource Inc.

The onions were distributed to wholesalers, broadline foodservice customers, and retail or grocery stores in:

  • 50 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., 5 lb., 3 lb., and 2 lb. mesh sacks
  • 50 lb., 40 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., and 5 lb. cartons

And by the following distributors and/or under the following brands:

  • Big Bull
  • Peak Fresh Produce
  • Sierra Madre
  • Markon First Crop.
  • Markon Essentials
  • Rio Blue
  • ProSource
  • Rio Valley
  • Sysco Imperial

Keeler Family Farms has recalled red, yellow, and white whole, fresh onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with import dates from July 1, 2021, through August 25, 2021. The onions were distributed in 25lb and 50lb mesh sacks. They contain a label that is marked as “MVP (product of MX)”.

Additional details regarding the recalled products are available on the Keeler Family Farms recall announcement.

Recalls have also been initiated by companies that sold recalled onions or products containing the recalled onions.

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Onions

CDC

White, yellow, and red onions

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 808  (156 new)
  • Hospitalizations: 157  (28 new)
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 37 and Puerto Rico  (1 new)
  • Recall: Yes
  • Investigation status: Active

Canada – Correction – Updated Food Recall Warning – Dorsey brand, MVP brand, Pier-C brand, and Riga Farms brand Onions, Product of Mexico recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Advisory details

Ottawa, October 29, 2021 – The food recall warning issued on October 28, 2021 has been amended to correctly identify the affected products. The corrections for these products are marked by an asterisk (*). This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Industry is recalling Dorsey brand, MVP brand, Pier-C brand, and Riga Farms brand Onions, Product of Mexico from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below or foods containing these raw onions. Retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes should not serve, use, or sell the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

These products may also have been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the same brand or product names as described below. The CFIA will continue its investigation into other possible importers and additional recalls may follow.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes Additional information
Dorsey Yellow Onions Mesh sacks:
10 lb / 4.54 kg
0 33383 60004 8* None – all products sold between July 7, 2021 and October 28, 2021, inclusively. Product of Mexico
MVP Yellow Onions 50 lb / 22.7 kg None 197*
208*
221*
Product of Mexico
Pier-C White Onions 2 lb / 0.907 kg 0 33383 60051 2 203*
209*
218*
228*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Pier-C White Onions 25 lb 0 33383 45101 5* 214*
215*
217*
221*
223*
224*
228*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Pier-C Yellow Onions 25 lb 0 33383 45095 7* 204*
210*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Pier-C Yellow Onions 40 lb /18.15 kg None 204*
208*
209*
210*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Riga Farms Yellow Onions 3 lbs / 1.36 kg 0 33383 60002 4 321621
323521
323621*
Product is labelled as Product of USA, although the onions are Product of Mexico

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased. If you are unsure of the identity of the onions in your possession, check with your place of purchase.

Background

This recall was triggered by recalls in another country by Prosource Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho and by Keeler Family Farms of Deming, NM. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses in Canada associated with the consumption of these products.

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: information@inspection.gc.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca