Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Diced Onions, CDC Warns

Federal health officials have traced a multistate salmonella food poisoning outbreak to multiple batches of recalled diced onions, celery and mirepoix.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the Gills Onion recall late last month, warning that 73 people across 22 states have become ill with a similar strain of salmonella after consuming the recalled onion products.

For healthy individuals, salmonella symptoms typically include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain lasting between four and seven days. The illness can become worse due to the delay in treatment because the infection can only be diagnosed by testing stool samples and is usually treated with antibiotics.

Among individuals with a weakened immune system, such as the elderly, children or pregnant women, the illness can pose a much greater risk and may lead to death or still birth if left untreated. In rare circumstances, the infection can even spread throughout the blood stream and cause arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently tracking the salmonella outbreak in conjunction with the FDA, and is aware of 15 related salmonella infections resulting in hospitalization.

Gills Diced Onions Recall

The Gills diced onion recall includes diced yellow onions  sold in 3 pound bags bags and 8ounce cups, diced celery and onions sold in 8 ounce cups, diced mirepoix sold in 10 ounce cups, and diced red onions sold in 8 ounce cups, sold at the following retail outlets;

• Bashas Markets,
• Smart & Final,
• Stater Bros. and
• CHEF’STORE

The recalled products  contain a”Use-by date” ranging from August 11, 2023 through August 28, 2023, The recalled products were shipped to retailers in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Canada.

The FDA is instructing all customers and retailers to dispose of the recalled products and to thoroughly disinfect any containers, surface areas or utensils the products may have come in direct contact with to prevent the spread of salmonella.

Consumers with recalled products are being encouraged to contact Gills Onions at 1-800-348-2255, or visit the company’s website at www.gillsonions.com for a copy of the recall and photos of the recalled products.