Onions Recalled In MN, Other States For Salmonella Risk

MINNESOTA — The Food and Drug Administration has issued a voluntary recall on fresh, whole onions sold and distributed in Minnesota, citing possible salmonella contamination.

The recalled onions, imported from Mexico and supplied by ProSource Produce of Idaho and Keeler Family Farms of New Mexico, were sold to restaurants, food service locations, wholesalers and retail or grocery stores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

So far, a salmonella outbreak linked to onions has resulted in 652 illnesses in 37 states, including Minnesota. According to the FDA’s website, approximately 23 illnesses have been reported in Minnesota.

Nearly 130 people have been hospitalized nationwide in connection with the outbreak, according to the FDA.

On Friday, Keeler Family Farms issued a voluntary recall of red, yellow and white whole, fresh onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, between July 1 and Aug. 25. These onions contain a label that is marked as “MVP (product of MX.)”

Two days earlier, ProSource Produce issued a voluntary recall of the same product imported between July 1 and Aug. 31. A full list of recalled product information is available in ProSource Produce LLC’s recall announcement.

Onions were sold to a number of distributors, which then sold them under different brand names, including:

• Big Bull
• Peak Fresh Produce
• Sierra Madre
• Markon First Crop.
• Markon Essentials
• Rio Blue
• ProSource
• Rio Valley
• Sysco Imperial

The onions were distributed to wholesalers, broadline food service customers, and retail or grocery stores in:

• 50 lbs., 25 lbs., 10 lbs., 5 lbs., 3 lbs., and 2 lbs. mesh sacks.
• 50 lbs.,40 lbs., 25 lbs., 10 lbs., and 5 lbs. cartons.

Recalls have also been initiated by the following companies that sold the contaminated onions or products containing them:

• HelloFresh, a meal kit subscription service
• EveryPlate, a meal kit subscription service
• Potandon Produce LLC, sold under brand name Green Giant

Consumers who may have purchased the onions or cannot tell if they did should immediately discard these products and disinfect any surfaces that came into contact with the onions.

Signs of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, which typically manifest between six hours and six days after exposure to the bacteria. Those under age 5, those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience severe illness.

In some cases, the infection can spread from the intestines to other parts of the body and require hospitalization.

The CDC encourages anyone with symptoms of salmonella poisoning to contact a doctor, write down what they ate the week before they became sick, report the illness to the health department and communicate with health investigators about their illness