Nationwide Onion Recall Spurred by Salmonella Outbreak

Onions sold under various brands have been recalled in all 50 states and the Department of Columbia after being linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 359 people across 34 states. According to a news report in the Miami Herald, this includes onions sold at the nation’s two largest grocery retail outlets – Wal-Mart and Kroger. Wal-Mart has released a list of affected stores. Kroger sold the onions under the house brand.

Details of the Recall and Illnesses

The recalled onions come from California-based Thomson International and were exported to Canada, which had 114 onion-connected salmonella cases, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Here in the United States, western states account for the most number of salmonella illnesses. More than half of the cases, 71, are in Oregon. Utah has 61 cases, California 49 and Montana, 33. There have also been cases reported in Florida, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that consumers check with restaurants and grocery stores when they eat out or shop for food to ensure that they are not selling or using onions from Thomson International. If the store or restaurant does not know where their onions are from, don’t buy the product, CDC officials say.

People who were sickened in this outbreak reported eating raw onions and freshly prepared food such as salads, wraps, sandwiches, salsas, and dips. So far in this outbreak, 59 people in the U.S. and 16 in Canada, have been hospitalized. The recalled onions were sold in mesh sacks of 2, 3, 5, 10, 25, or 50 pounds and cartons of 5, 10, 25, 40, and 50 pounds.

If You Have Been Affected

Some of the common symptoms of salmonella poisoning include stomach aches, fever and diarrhea. Of the 1.3 million people in the U.S. who get salmonella each year, about 26,500 or 2% wind up getting hospitalized. Nearly 420 people die annually from salmonella infections.

If you are experiencing symptoms of salmonella poisoning, it is important that you see a doctor right away to receive treatment and care. If you know or have an idea of what caused your illness, make sure you save the receipt and preserve the product that you believe caused your illness so it can be independently tested in a laboratory for the presence of pathogens. An experienced California personal injury lawyer will be able to fight for your rights and help you secure maximum compensation for the injuries, damages and losses you have suffered.

Source: https://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article244668067.html