Fresh Cut Onions and Celery Recalled Due to Presense of Listeria

Gills Onions is recalling fresh cut onions and cut celery after random FDA testing yielded a positive result for Listeria. The 6000 pounds of the retail product was shipped to 8 different states and Canada. There have been no reported illnesses. (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm312707.htm).

Gills, one of the nation’s largest family-owned onions growers operates one of the largest, most innovative and sustainable fresh cut onion plants in the world (quoted from their website -http://www.gillsonions.com/). However for Gills, this is their second recall due to Listeria within the last 3 months. On May 19, 2012, Gills Onions initiated a voluntary recall, 2,360 pounds of diced red onions as a result of a routine and random test directed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm304732.htm)

A study published in JFP indicates that Listeria monocytogenes populations will remain constant on fresh cut onions at 4ºC, but will grow slowly at 10ºC (Farber, etal JFP 1997). Certainly, higher temperatures or adding cut onions to a salad or a sandwich and then holding that at an elevated temperature would likely enhance growth potential.


Gills recalls fresh-cut onions, celery in U.S., Canada
The Packer
http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/fresh-produce-retail/Gills-recalls-fresh-cut-onions-celery-163045406.html
07/19/2012 11:06:21 AM
Coral Beach

Possible listeria contamination spurred Gills Onions LLC to voluntarily recall 6,000 pounds — an entire day’s production — of diced and slivered red and yellow onions and diced onion-celery mix.

No illnesses had been reported at the time the recall was issued on the evening of July 18, according to Amy Philpott, a company spokeswoman.

The Oxnard, Calif., produce company shipped the onions July 2-4 directly to retailers in Canada and in California, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington. There are nine different products in the recall, and they all have July 20 use-by dates.

Gills officials initiated the recall after the Food and Drug Administration notified them that a random sample at retail tested positive for listeria.

As a precautionary move the company is recalling all products processed on the same day and same line as the sample that tested positive; about 5,000 pounds went to U,S. companies and about 1,000 pounds were shipped to Canada.

According to the recall notice, Gills notified all customers who received the recalled products and requested retailers to notify their customers of the recall.

In late May Gills recalled 2,360 pounds of diced red onions in the U.S. and Canada after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency did a random sample and got a positive result for listeria.



FDA News Release

Gills Onions Voluntarily Recalls Diced and Slivered Red and Yellow Onions, and Diced Onion and Celery Mix Because of Possible Health Risk

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm312707.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 18, 2012 - Gills Onions, LLC of Oxnard, CA is initiating a voluntary recall of a single day’s production of diced and slivered red and yellow onions and diced celery and onion mix because they may be contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall, and no other Gills Onions products are affected by this recall. A list of recalled products is provided at the end of this release.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products, which are packaged under the brand "Gill's Onions," were shipped between July 2-4, 2012 directly from Gills Onions to retailers in Canada and the following U.S. states: California, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington.

This voluntary recall was initiated when the company was notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that a random sample of diced yellow onions taken at retail tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. As a precautionary measure, Gills Onions is recalling all products processed on the same day and on the same line as the sample that tested positive.

Gills Onions is notifying all customers who received the recalled product directly from the company and requesting that they remove it from commerce. We are also asking our direct customers to notify their customers of this recall. Gills Onions is keeping the U.S. Food and Drug Administration informed of its recall process to assure that consumers are properly alerted.

“Gills Onions is committed to protecting public health and to executing this voluntary recall effectively and efficiently,” said Steve Gill, president of the company. “We are a multi generational family business, and we work hard every day to earn the trust and confidence of customers and consumers who enjoy our high quality, healthy products.”

Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it and should destroy or discard it. Consumers with questions may contact Gills Onions at 1-800-348-2255, M-F 8am-5pm PDT. Please visit our website at www.gillsonions.com1 for a copy of this release.

Gills Onions’ July 18, 2012 product recall
Recalled Lot Code	Product Description ("Gill's Onions” Brand)	Use-by-date	UPC Code*
USA
22YAA1A2184	Diced Yellow Onions, 7 oz	07/20/12	643550000405
22RAA1A2184	Diced Red Onions, 7 oz	07/20/12	643550000412
22YAA1A2184	Slivered Yellow Sweet Onions, 5oz	07/20/12	643550000092
22RAA1A2184	Slivered Red Onions, 5 oz	07/20/12	643550000009
22YAA1A2184	Diced Celery and Onion, 7 oz	07/20/12	643550000429
22YAA1A2184	Diced Celery and Onion, 19 oz	07/20/12	643550000351
CANADA
22YAA1A2184	Diced Yellow Onions, Oignons jaunes frais, en dés, 198g	07/20/12	643550000443
22RAA1A2184	Diced Red Onions, Oignons rouge frais, en dés, 198g	07/20/12	643550000450
22YAA1A2184	Diced Celery & Onions, Céleri et oignons frais, en dés, 198g	07/20/12	643550000467
*The UPC Code can also be found on products not included in this recall, so please refer to the lot code in order to identify the recalled product.