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Friday, October 22, 2021

Update - Distributors Recall Onions Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

Updated 10-22-21  FDA issued an update for the Salmonella outbreak linked to onions to indicate that two US distributors ProSource Produce and Keeler Family Farms have issued a recall of red, yellow, and white onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with import dates from July 1, 2021, through August 31, 2021.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/prosource-produce-llc-voluntarily-recalls-whole-raw-onions-shipped-chihuahua-mexico-between-july-1
Prosource Produce LLC Voluntarily Recalls Whole Raw Onions Shipped From Chihuahua, Mexico, Between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 20, 2021
FDA Publish Date: October 21, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages Produce
Foodborne Illness
Reason for Announcement: Potential Salmonella Contamination
Company Name: ProSource Produce LLC
Brand Name: Big Bull, Peak Fresh Produce, Sierra Madre, Markon First Crop., Markon Essentials, Rio Blue, ProSource, Rio Valley, and Sysco Imperial
Product Description: Whole raw red, yellow, white onions
Company Announcement

October 20, 2021, ProSource Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho, is voluntarily recalling whole raw onions (red, yellow, and white) shipped from Chihuahua, Mexico, between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, because they may have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The products are whole raw onions (red, yellow, and white) that were shipped to the United States from Chihuahua, Mexico, between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, and were distributed in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WI, as well as Ontario and Quebec, Canada. No fresh onions that originated in Chihuahua, MX have been shipped by the company since the end of August 2021.

While investigations into various potential sources of Salmonella remain ongoing, to date no onions marketed through ProSource have tested positive for Salmonella. This voluntary recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on reported illnesses which have been associated with the possible consumption of fresh onions that originated in Chihuahua, MX, and shipped to the U.S. during July and August 2021.

The onions were distributed to wholesalers, broadline foodservice customers, and retail stores in 50 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., 5 lb., 3 lb., and 2 lb. mesh sacks; and 50 lb., 40 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., and 5 lb. cartons, by the following distributors and/or under the following brands:

Big Bull, Peak Fresh Produce, Sierra Madre, Markon First Crop., Markon Essentials, Rio Blue, ProSource, Rio Valley, and Sysco Imperial. Representative examples of product labels are below.

Consumers who have purchased onions that originated in Chihuahua, MX are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or throw them out. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (208) 928-4959, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm MDT.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/keeler-family-farms-recalls-red-white-and-yellow-onions-due-possible-health-risk?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Keeler Family Farms Recalls Red, White, and Yellow Onions Due to Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date: October 22, 2021
FDA Publish Date: October 22, 2021
Product Type: Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement: Potential Salmonella Contamination
Company Name: Keeler Family Farms
Brand Name: MVP
Product Description:
Red, yellow, and white onions
Company Announcement
Keeler Family Farms of Deming, NM is voluntarily recalling red, yellow, and white onions shipped from July 1, 2021 through August 25, 2021 that were imported from Chihuahua, MX. The onions are recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella, 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 persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

While investigations into various potential sources of Salmonella remain ongoing, to date no onions marketed through Keeler Family Farms have tested positive for Salmonella. This voluntary recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on reported illnesses which have been associated with the possible consumption of fresh onions that originated in Chihuahua, MX, and shipped to the U.S. during July and August 2021. As of now, no specific source of contamination or contaminated shipment has been identified, and FDA is also investigating other potential sources of contamination and has not yet reached a conclusion.

Onions were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The onions were distributed in 25lb/50lb mesh sacks. They contain a label that is marked as MVP (product of MX), but were processed at Keeler Family Farms. The last to ship was on August 25, 2021.

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve red, white, yellow, or onions from Keeler Family Farms or products containing such onions. If you cannot tell if your onion is from Keeler Family Farm’s, or your food product contains such onions, you should not eat, sell, or serve it, and should throw it out.

652 total illnesses have been reported to date including 202 hospitalizations. States with cases include: AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, and WV.

Consumers who have any Red, Yellow, and White Onions under the above brand names, or who cannot tell if their onions are from Keeler Family Farm’s, should immediately discard these products and disinfect any surfaces that came into contact with the onions. Vendors with questions may contact Keeler Family Farms at 575-652-5405, Monday thru Friday 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.


https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-oranienburg-whole-fresh-onions-october-2021
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg: Whole, Fresh Onions (October 2021)
10/21/2021
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 652
Hospitalizations: 129
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: September 30, 2021
States with Cases: AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV
Product Distribution: Nationwide
Recall Information


ProSource Produce LLC has voluntarily recalled red, yellow, and white onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with import dates from July 1, 2021, through August 31, 2021. Additional descriptors used for these onion types may include, but are not limited to, jumbo, colossal, medium, summer and sweet onions. Additional recall information will be made public as soon as it is available from ProSource Inc.


The onions were distributed to wholesalers, broadline foodservice customers, and retail or grocery stores in:
50 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., 5 lb., 3 lb., and 2 lb. mesh sacks
50 lb., 40 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., and 5 lb. cartons
And by the following distributors and/or under the following brands:


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

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