Thomson International onions are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination and a potential link to a multistate Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened almost 400 people in the U.S. and more than a hundred in Canada. The recalled onions were shipped from May 1, 2020 through the present.
The red, white, sweet, and yellow onions were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states in addition to the District of Columbia and Canada. The brand names on the onions include Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions, and Food Lion.
The onions were distributed in 5 pound cartons, 10 pound cartons, 25 pound cartons, 40 pound cartons, 50 pound cartons, bulk purchases, 2 pound mesh sacks, 3 pound mesh sacks, 10 pound mesh sacks, 25 pound mesh sacks, and 50 pound mesh sacks. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve red, white, yellow, or sweet onions or any products that are made with these onions.
If you aren’t sure if the onions in your home are from Thomson International or if the food product contains those onions, throw it out. Then disinfect any areas where the onions were stored. You can see pictures of product labels at the FDA web site.
The Salmonella Newport outbreak is potentially linked to the red onions, but because of the way onions are harvested and processed, yellow, white, and sweet onions are also recalled.
Stay tuned to the FDA recalls, because more items may be recalled. The recall notice states, “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that may be linked to these onions, so Thomson International is recalling the onions out of an abundance of caution. 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 final conclusion.”
