A Gills diced onion Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 73 people in 22 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fifteen of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick.
The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (6), Montana (2), North Dakota (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (3), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (17), Virginia (3), Wisconsin (3), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from August 2, 2023 to September 25, 2023. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 90 years old. Of the 65 people who gave information to public health investigators, 15, or 23%, have been hospitalized.
Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that onions processed at Gills Onions may be contaminated with Salmonella and are making people sick. Of 19 people who had information about what they ate before they got sick, 14, or 74%, said they ate onions or were served diced onions.
Of these 14 people, six live in long term care facilities. Officials identified a cluster of three people who live in the same long term care facility who all got sick which helped aid the investigation. Through traceback, the FDA found that onions processed at Gills Onions were available at points of service where patients ate before they got sick. And meal records from the long term care facilities showed that people were served diced onions from Gills Onions.
Food Safety Lawyer and Food Poisoning Bulletin Publisher Eric Hageman
Noted food safety attorney Eric Hageman, who has successfully represented many clients sickened in Salmonella outbreaks, said, “No one should get sick eating something as simple as diced onions, especially people who are at higher risk for serious complications from food poisoning. We hope that this outbreak does not grow now that a recall has been issued.”
Whole genome sequencing showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. That means they got sick from eating the same food.
On October 24, 2023, Gills Onions recalled fresh diced onion products, including diced yellow onions, diced red onions, and mirepoix, which is a mixture of diced onions, celery, and carrots. All of those products are past their best by dates, but consumers may still have them in their freezers, perhaps used as ingredients in recipes. The onions were sold in select stores and were also sold to restaurants and institutions nationwide and in Canada.
Symptoms of a Salmonella food poisoning infection usually take about 12 to 72 hours to appear after infection. Most people suffer from headache, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and cramps, abdominal pain and cramps, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Most people recover without treatment, but some, especaily the elderly, the very young, pregnant women, and anyone with a chronic illness or compromised immune system, may get sick enough to require hospitalization.
And even after full recovery, long term complications can set in. For a Salmonella infection, these can include reactive arthritis, high blood pressure, and endocarditis.
If you have eaten any Gills diced onion products and have been sick with those symptoms, see your doctor. You may be part of this Gills diced onion Salmonella outbreak.
If you have been sickened with a Salmonella food poisoning infection, please contact our experienced attorneys for help with a possible lawsuit at 1-888-377-8900 or text us at 612-261-0856. Our firm represents clients in lawsuits against grocery stores, restaurants, and food processors.
