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Onions linked to salmonella outbreak in 37 states

FDA, CDC say red, yellow and white onions from ProSource potentially contaminated

Russell Redman

October 21, 2021

2 Min Read
ProSource_onions.jpg
The FDA said it’s still working to determine if salmonella-contaminated onions from ProSource were sold to consumers through grocery stores.ProSource

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified ProSource Inc. (dba ProSource Produce LLC) as the source of a 37-state salmonella outbreak linked to whole, fresh onions.

In announcing the alert Wednesday, the FDA and CDC said Hailey, Idaho-based ProSource has voluntarily agreed to recall potentially contaminated red, yellow and white onions imported from the Mexican state of Chihuahua from July 1 to Aug. 27 and sold to restaurants, foodservice and possibly grocery stores. Both agencies have urged consumers, merchants and suppliers who have or may have purchased these onions — including jumbo, colossal, medium, sweet and possibly other varieties — to discard them.

Through Oct. 20, the outbreak of salmonella oranienburg has resulted in 652 illnesses and 129 hospitalizations, but no deaths, the FDA reported. State and local partners also are working with the FDA and the CDC on the investigation.

“Illness subclusters investigated in this outbreak thus far are associated with restaurants and foodservice locations. 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,” Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response at FDA, said in a statement.

Related:Hy-Vee boosts food safety compliance for in-store kitchens

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Interviews with ill consumers found that 75% ate (or possibly ate) raw onions or dishes likely containing raw onions before they became sick, according to the CDC. Also, some of those people reported eating at the same restaurants, indicating they may be part of illness clusters. The FDA said epidemiological data collected by CDC, state and local investigators identified 20 illness clusters at restaurants where onions were served.

“We are issuing this update early in our investigation as part of our continued commitment to transparency and early communication,” Yiannas added. “We will provide updates as we learn more during our continuing traceback investigation, especially if there are any updates to this critical public health advice.”

The FDA noted that it’s still working to determine if salmonella-contaminated onions were sold to consumers through grocery stores. In addition, the agency said suppliers, distributors and others in the supply chain should throw out all onions and other food products that may have been mixed with ProSource-sourced onions because of potential cross-contamination.

Related:Onion recall tied to salmonella outbreaks in 34 states, Canada

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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