Salmonella Outbreak in 37 States Linked to Imported Onions

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THURSDAY, Oct. 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Onions from Mexico have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 652 people in 37 states, federal health officials said Wednesday.

Investigators have traced one source of the outbreak to whole red, white, and yellow onions that were imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, and distributed across the United States by ProSource Inc., the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release.

Interviews with sick people show that 75 percent ate or possibly ate raw onions or dishes likely containing raw onions before they became sick. Several ill people reported eating at the same restaurants, indicating they may be part of illness clusters. The outbreak strain was identified in a sample of cilantro and lime from a restaurant condiment cup collected from a sick person's home, the CDC said.

So far, there have been 129 hospitalizations, but no deaths.

"Illness subclusters investigated in this outbreak thus far are associated with restaurants and food service locations," Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said in a statement. "That's why as our investigation continues, we're advising restaurants, retailers, and consumers to not eat, sell, or serve red, yellow, and white onions supplied by ProSource Inc. that were imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, from July 1 through Aug. 27, or products containing these onions. ProSource Inc. has agreed to voluntarily recall such onions."

More Information: FDA

More Information: CDC