The FDA has released an investigation report into the Thomson red onion Salmonella outbreak that took place n the summer and fall of 2020. the report details the factors that may have contributed to the contamination of the onions. At least 1,127 American and 515 people in Canada were sickened in this outbreak, which was the largest Salmonella outbreak in more than ten years. The outbreak was also unusual because red onions had not been associated with a foodborne illness outbreak before. The outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport was not identified in any of the nearly 2,000 subsamples tested, but 11 subsamples, which included ten water and 1 sediment, that were collected near the growing fields identified in traceback were positive for Salmonella Newport. A conclusive root cause … [Read more...]
Why Were Red Onions Contaminated with Salmonella? FDA May Know
In the 2020 Salmonella Newport outbreak linked to red onions, more than 1600 people were sickened in the U.S. and Canada, with 1,127 sickened in the United States alone. Red onions from Thomson International were the likely source of this outbreak, although the government could not identify a conclusive root source of the contamination. Why were red onions contaminated with Salmonella? This was the largest Salmonella outbreak in over a decade in the United States. The FDA has released a report which may supply some answers about why this outbreak happened So why were red onions contaminated with Salmonella bacteria? There were several potential contributing factors that may have caused the contamination. They include potentially contaminated source of irrigation water; sheep … [Read more...]
FDA Says Salmonella Newport Onion Outbreak Over After 1,127 Sickened
The FDA says that the Salmonella Newport onion outbreak is now over after sickening at least 1,127 people in 48 states. FDA's traceback investigation identified a packing facility and multiple farms in California that supplied red onions during the "time of interest." Joint field-level investigations by the FDA, California Department of Public Health, and California Department of Food and Agriculture were initiated according to traceback investigations. But by that time, most of the product had already been harvested and distributed. The FDA has compiled more than 2000 product and environmental samples. The government found a variety of genetic strain of Salmonella Newport in those samples, but a genetic match to the outbreak strain has not been identified. But the investigation … [Read more...]
Three Salmonella Outbreaks in Peaches, Onions, Wood Ear Mushrooms
There are currently three Salmonella outbreaks ongoing in the United States right now. Altogether they have sickened at least 1,131 people and hospitalized 163. The outbreaks are linked to Wawona peaches, Thomson International Onions, and imported Wismettac Asian Foods wood ear mushrooms, also known as dried black fungus. While there are usually three to four multistate Salmonella outbreaks that occur every year in the United States, it's unusual to have three active outbreaks at the same time. The Salmonella Newport outbreak linked to Thomson International red onions has not been updated by the government in a month. As of September 1, 2020, there are 1,012 people sick in 47 states, with 136 hospitalized. The recall of those onions was terminated yesterday by the FDA, which may … [Read more...]
FDA Terminates Recall of Thomson International Onions
The FDA has terminated the recall of Thomson International red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions for possible Salmonella contamination. The usual recall notice does include photos of product labels that will help consumers identify the recalled products. But information about the Salmonella outbreak that is linked to those onions is incorrect. The recall notice states, "Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California is recalling Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions shipped from May 1, 2020 through the present. The onions are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems." The … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Salmonella Newport Red Onion Outbreak: 869 Sick
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the Salmonella Newport red onion outbreak that has now sickened at least 869 people in 47 states. One hundred sixteen people are hospitalized because they are so sick. That is an additional 229 ill persons since the last update on August 7, 2020, including 9 from 4 new states: Arkansas, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Texas. The patient case count by state is: Alaska (15), Alabama (1), Arizona (35), Arkansas (2), California (115), Colorado (25), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (5), Georgia (6), Hawaii (3), Idaho (34), Illinois (49), Indiana (3), Iowa (23), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Maine (5), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (44), Minnesota (18), Mississippi (4), Missouri (10), Montana (63), Nebraska (10), … [Read more...]
Red Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak Has Now Sickened 869
The huge red onion Salmonella Newport outbreak has now sickened at least 869 people in 47 states. One hundred sixteen people have been hospitalized. Many primary and secondary recalls for the Thomson International onions, the brand the FDA believes is linked to this outbreak, have been issued in the past few weeks. The patient case count by state is: Alaska (15), Alabama (1), Arizona (35), Arkansas (2), California (115), Colorado (25), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (5), Georgia (6), Hawaii (3), Idaho (34), Illinois (49), Indiana (3), Iowa (23), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Maine (5), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (44), Minnesota (18), Mississippi (4), Missouri (10), Montana (63), Nebraska (10), Nevada (11), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (1), New … [Read more...]
Salmonella Newport Onion Outbreak Sickens 640 in 43 States
The Salmonella Newport onion outbreak has now sickened at least 640 people in 43 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighty-five people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The case count by state is: Alaska (6), Alabama (1), Arizona (14), California (76), Colorado (14), Connecticut (2), Delaware (1), Florida (3), Georgia (1), Idaho (26), Illinois (41), Indiana (2), Iowa (20), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Maine (4), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (36), Minnesota (14), Mississippi (2), Missouri (6), Montana (52), Nebraska (10), Nevada (8), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (1), New York (5), North Carolina (5), North Dakota (8), Ohio (8), Oregon (85), Pennsylvania (9), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (5), Utah (90), … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In on Multistate Red Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the multistate red onion Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 396 people in 34 states. The FDA is collaborating with the Public Health Agency of Canada, where more than a hundred people are sick with the same strain of Salmonella Newport. On July 30, 2020, Canadian health officials announced they had determined that red onions from the U.S. were a potential source of the outbreak. Sysco red onions that were imported from the United States were recalled in that country. Then on August 1, 2020, Thomson International recalled all varieties of onions in the U.S. and Canada that could have come into contact with the potentially contaminated red onions, including yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions grown and packaged by that company. The … [Read more...]
Thomson International Red Onions Recalled in Canada For Salmonella
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 … [Read more...]
