Thomson International red onions, as well as yellow, white, and sweet onions imported from the U.S. into Canada are being recalled for potential Salmonella contamination. The onions were sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Possibly National, Saskatchewan, Yukon at the retail level.
Red, white, yellow, and sweet yellow onions grown by Thomson International of Bakersfield, California are recalled. No one should eat those onions, or any foods made with the onions.
The products may also have been purchased online or through different restaurants. They may also have been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may or may not have the same brand or product names described below.
The recalled brands listed include El Competitor, Imperial Fresh, Onions 52, Tender Loving Care, Thomson International, Thomson International Premium, and Thomson Premium. The recalled product is yellow, red, white, and sweet yellow onions in all sizes. The UPC numbers are variable or may be missing. All products imported into Canada since May 1, 2020 are recalled. The onions may be packaged in mesh sacks, cartons, or cardboard boxes.
The recall was triggered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency during its investigation into a multi province Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 114 people in that country. There is a corresponding Salmonella Newport outbreak in the U.S., also potentially linked to recalled Thomson International red onions, that has sickened almost 400 people in 34 states.
Please check your pantry or wherever you store onions to see if you have any of these onions in your home. If you do, or if you purchased unmarked onions and don’t know where they came from, throw them away in a sealed package. You can also take them back to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Then sanitize the area where the onions were stored. Also wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the onions and after cleaning.
