CDC Warns of Salmonella Outbreak in 37 States Linked to Imported Onions

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert that warned of a salmonella outbreak linked to imported onions.

Over 650 people across 37 states have fallen ill due to the outbreak, which has also hospitalized at least 129 individuals. The CDC cautioned that whole red, white, and yellow onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico and distributed by ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms have been impacted by the outbreak.

“The onions were last imported on August 31, but they may last up to three months in storage and may still be in homes and businesses,” the food safety alert reads. ProSource LLC has since recalled all of the onions the company sourced from the State of Chihuahua between July and August, and the CDC has said that businesses should not serve onions from that region of Mexico until further notice. 

“Throw away any whole red, white, or yellow onions you have at home that do not have a sticker or packaging,” the CDC warned. Investigators are working to determine whether other onions and suppliers could be linked to the outbreak. “If you can’t tell where the onions are from, don’t buy or eat them.” Both consumers and businesses have additionally been told to sanitize any surfaces that could have potentially been in contact with the impacted onions.

A similar salmonella outbreak linked to onions was reported last year, resulting in over 1,600 reported illnesses in North America between June and October 2020.