Onions Are The Cause Of A Massive Salmonella Outbreak
Turns out onions are to blame for a massive salmonella outbreak across the county. The outbreak has been traced to 37 different states. The CDC announced Wednesday that it was caused by fresh whole onions. In a tweet, they instructed people to throw away any unlabeled onions. This includes red, white, and yellow onions, the affected vegetables are from Chihuahua Mexico, and are distributed in the US by ProSource, Inc.
The last shipment of the onions was on August 27th but onions have a long shelf life so they could still be in grocers or homes. No word yet on if any other distributors are a part of the outbreak that has impacted at least 652 people. That number is probably much higher as many people would be able to recover without reporting symptoms of the illness. The first case was reported at the end of May and most people reported eating raw onions prior to symptoms of salmonella.
Make sure to check your onions. Any that were distributed by ProSource Inc. from Mexico or those without labels should go in the trash. The CDC also recommends thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting any surfaces or dishes that may have come into contact with the onions.
Symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. These symptoms can emerge anywhere from 6 hours to 6 days after injesting the bacteria. Most people are able to recover without intervention though younger or older individuals may need medical treatment or hospitalization.
OUTBREAK UPDATE: Fresh whole onions causing large Salmonella outbreak in 37 states. Throw away any unlabeled onions at home. Do not eat, sell, or serve red, white, or yellow onions imported from Mexico and distributed U.S.-wide by ProSource Inc. https://t.co/SH3Iy7JeEG pic.twitter.com/ukttkDi5pp
— CDC (@CDCgov) October 20, 2021
