Diced Onions Have Been Linked To A Salmonella Outbreak Spanning 22 States

Abigail Wilt
·2 min read
11

Fifteen individuals have been hospitalized.

<p>FDA</p>

FDA

There are dozens of kitchen shortcuts—especially in the era of shared tips and tricks on the internet—absolutely worth taking. (Did you know that you can shave off overbaked bits of cookies off with a microplane, for instance, or use a jar grip to remove corn silks?) If you’re opting for a food prep shortcut to make a recipe easier, however, pay attention to the latest recall on onions.

The Food and Drug Administration just announced a voluntarily recall of fresh diced onion products from Gills Onions, a producer based in California, that has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak. The recalled products specifically include bags and cups of diced yellow onions, chopped mirepoix blend, diced red onion cups, and diced celery with onions.

There have been 73 reports of Salmonella—spanning 22 states—between August 2 and September 25, the CDC reported, though the number of ill individuals is likely much higher. Of these 73, 15 people have been hospitalized. In the South, cases have been reported in Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia. “Epidemiologic and traceback data show that onions processed at Gills Onions may be contaminated with Salmonella and may be making people sick,” the CDC outlined. The agency confirmed that 14 of 19 individuals for whom they have more detailed information were served diced onions, and six of those were served Gills Onions in long-term care facilities.

As the onions are well past their use-by date, none are currently on grocery store shelves. Gills Onions and the FDA both encourage folks who may have the recalled products in their refrigerator or freezer to discard immediately.

The recall includes:

  • Gills 3-lb. bags of diced yellow onions (UPC 643550000320, use-by date 8/11/23 to 8/28/23)

  • Gills 8-oz. cups of diced yellow onions (UPC 643550000658, use-by date 8/12/23 to 8/28/23)

  • Gills 8-oz. cups of diced celery & onions (UPC 643550000696, use-by date 8/15/23 to 8/28/23)

  • Gills 10-oz. cups of diced mirepoix (UPC 643550000788, use-by date 8/8/23 to 8/24/23)

  • Gills 8-oz. cups of diced red onions (UPC 643550000641, use-by date 8/12/23 to 8/28/23)

(Note that the UPC code and the use-by date in tandem determine which products are recalled.) Maintaining proper food prep standards is the best way to keep yourself and your family safe from unwanted bacteria in your food—rules that sometimes defy what we learned from our parents in the kitchen. When in doubt: Wash hands and surfaces frequently, don’t cross-contaminate, cook ingredients (especially meat and eggs) to the proper internal temperature, and refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Salmonella is one guest we will not be welcoming into our homes.

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