Texas has become the worst hit by a new wave of Mexican Onions Salmonella infection, that is coming from Mexican Onions. At least 652 people in 37 states have caught salmonella from onions imported from Mexico, CDC said Thursday.
The actual number of people infected could be higher because some people may not have been tested for the bacteria, the CDC said.
Texas is the worst-hit state with 159 infections, CDC data shows.
Salmonella is a bacteria that usually causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps lasting about a week. But some people, especially, those 65 and older, kids under 5, and those with weakened immune systems, may require medical treatment.
In the current outbreak, 129 people have needed hospital treatment and nobody has died, the CDC said.
The onions – distributed by ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms – were sold to restaurants and grocery stores throughout the US under brands including Big Bull, Peak Fresh Produce, Sierra Madre, Markon First Crop, Markon Essentials, Rio Blue, ProSource, Rio Valley, and Sysco Imperial, the CDC said.
At least 652 people in 37 states have caught salmonella from onions imported from Mexico. Throw away any onions that don’t have a sticker or packaging, CDC says.
Salmonella from Mexican onions has infected more than 650 people in 37 states, CDC says
Meanwhile , The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says red, white, and yellow raw onions from Prosource Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho are being recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.
The onions, which were imported from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, were sold in Ontario and Quebec and possibly other provinces and territories between July 1 and Aug. 31.
They were marketed under a variety of brand names, including Big Bull, Peak Fresh Produce, Sierra Madre Produce, Markon First Crop, Markon Essentials, RioBlue, ProSource, Rio Valley and Imperial Fresh.
cdc 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.
What are the symptoms of Salmonella Infection?
Consumers who have the onions are advised to either throw them out or return them to the place of purchase.
So far there have been no reported illnesses linked to the produce.
Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning can include fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and in rare cases severe arthritis.
Investigators were trying to figure out if other onions and suppliers were linked to the outbreak, it said.
The onions, which were recalled on Thursday, were last imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico on August 31, the CDC said. They may last three months in storage and could be in homes and businesses across the US, the CDC said.
It urged businesses and people at home to check for potentially contaminated onions and wash any surfaces that the onions could have touched.
