Getting ready to shop for Thanksgiving groceries? Watch out for recalled onions in the produce aisle.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded its onion recall on Monday, adding more products to a list of onions linked to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 892 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the salmonella outbreak was first reported in mid-September, the FDA did not link the growing outbreak to onions until October. All impacted onions were imported from Mexico between July 1 and Aug. 31 and supplied by ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms, according to the CDC. The onions have been distributed to wholesalers, restaurants and retail stores.
As of Tuesday, the salmonella outbreak has caused at least 183 hospitalizations across 38 states and Puerto Rico, according to the CDC. The agency says the investigation is still active.
Recalls announced Monday include onions from Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc. that were delivered to select retailers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, as well as some onions supplied from Keeler Family Farms and sold as Green Giant Fresh onions in Illinois. The recall does not affect any Green Giant canned or frozen vegetable products.
Which onions have been recalled?
The CDC says all contaminated onions were imported from Chihuahua, Mexico. The FDA recall currently includes:
► Some onions (red, yellow and white) from Keeler Family Farms distributed in 25 pound and 50 pound mesh sacks marked as MVP.
► Some red, yellow and white raw onions from ProSource Produce LLC distributed in mesh sacks and cartons of various sizes under a variety of brand names, including Big Bull, Peak Fresh Produce, Sierra Madre, Markon First Crop., Markon Essentials, Rio Blue, ProSource, Rio Valley and Sysco Imperial.
► Onions received in meal kits from EveryPlate and HelloFresh from July 7 through Sept. 8.
► Some Green Giant Fresh whole yellow onions in 2 pound bags, 3 pound bags, and 5 pound bags; whole white onions in 2 pound bags; and whole red onions in 2 pound bags from ProSource Produce with UPC codes 60580600120-8, 60580600123-9, 60580600170-3, 60580600218-2 and 60580600248-9.
► Some Pier-C Produce whole 2 pound white onions from Keeler Family Farms with the UPC code 03338360051-2.
► Some Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc. fresh whole yellow onions in 3 pound bags, 5 pound bags, and 50 pound cartons; fresh whole white onions in 2 pound bags; and fresh whole red onions in 2 pound bags sourced from Keeler Family Farms.
Are onions safe to eat?
The recalled products should be thrown out or returned, according to the FDA and CDC.
“If you can’t tell where the onions are from, don’t buy or eat them,” the CDC says. “Wash surfaces and containers these onions may have touched using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.”
The onions can potentially be contaminated with salmonella, which can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain among healthy people. The bacteria can lead to serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children or elderly people, and in rare circumstances can produce more severe illnesses such as infected aneurysms, endocarditis and arthritis, according to the FDA.
Symptoms usually start six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria, and most people recover without treatment after four to seven days, according to the CDC.
► FDA onion recall:Onions linked to salmonella outbreak in 37 states recalled for possible contamination
Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz.