Massive onion recall affects all 50 states

A variety of onions across the United States are currently under recall due to possible salmonella contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration, and they’ve been sold in every state.

Following a joint investigation by the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and state and local partners, as well as the Public Health Agency of Canada, California-based Thomson International, Inc., is voluntarily recalling onions because of possible salmonella risk. The investigation traced contaminated red onions as the likely source of this risk, but because of the potential for cross-contamination, the company is also recalling yellow, white and sweet yellow onions.

The company distributed onions to retail stores, restaurants and wholesalers in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Canada. As of Aug. 3, 396 illnesses, including 59 hospitalizations, have been reported in more than 30 states, according to the CDC.

The recalled onions were sold in 5-pound cartons, 10-pound cartons, 25-pound cartons, 40-pound cartons, 50-pound cartons, 2-pound  mesh sacks, 3-pound mesh sacks, 5-pound mesh sacks, 10-pound mesh sacks, 25-pound mesh sacks, 50-pound mesh sacks and bulk under the following brand names:

• El Competitor
• Food Lion
• Hartley’s Best
• Imperial Fresh
• Kroger
• Majestic
• Onions 52
• Tender Loving Care
• Thomson Premium
• TLC Thomson International
• Utah Onions

The FDA has images of many of the labels the onions were sold under on their recall notice, but keep in mind they were also sold in bulk.

If you have purchased any red, yellow, white or sweet yellow onions from May 1, 2020, through the present under the brand names listed, or if you are not sure what brand names they were sold under, you should discard the products immediately.

Salmonella infection can be fatal for young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems, and in healthy people, it can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The FDA suggests taking the following measures to protect your family from salmonella infection:

• Wash cookware, utensils and cutting boards that might have been in contact with the onions using hot, soapy water.
• Clean counters, shelves and refrigerator surfaces on which you have stored onions.
• Sanitize surfaces, shelves and cookware using a solution of one tablespoon of bleach in one gallon of water and allow them to air dry.

If you have any further questions, you can contact  Kim Earnshaw at Thomson International Inc. by calling 661-845-1111.