In a growing health crisis, a multistate salmonella outbreak has swept across 22 U.S. states, resulting in at least 73 reported cases and 15 hospitalizations, prompting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a food safety alert. The outbreak has been attributed to certain diced onion products produced by Gills Onions, leading to a voluntary recall of the implicated items.
The CDC’s food safety alert advises consumers and food establishments against consuming or serving the recalled diced onion products. These items, including diced yellow onions (3-pound bags and 8-ounce cups), diced celery and onions (8-ounce cups), diced mirepoix (10-ounce cups), and diced red onions (8-ounce cups), have been associated with the outbreak.
The affected lots of Gills Onions products were identified by use-by dates ranging from August 8 to August 28. While these products are no longer available on store shelves, the CDC urges individuals to check their freezers and refrigerators for any of the affected items, which should be disposed of promptly or returned to the point of purchase. Additionally, any surfaces or items that may have come into contact with the recalled onion products should be thoroughly washed and sanitized using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.
The Gills Onions products in question were distributed in both the United States and Canada, making the reach of this outbreak cross-border. Notably, one subcluster of infections was pinpointed in a long-term care facility. While the CDC continues its investigation, it warns that the scale of the outbreak may be more extensive than the reported cases suggest.
Symptoms of a salmonella infection often manifest as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, typically appearing within hours or days after exposure to the bacteria. Most individuals will recover with appropriate treatment, but those experiencing severe symptoms, symptoms that do not improve after a few days, or signs of dehydration are urged to seek immediate medical attention. Seniors, children under the age of 5, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of experiencing severe illness.
This ongoing outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of food safety practices and underscores the necessity of swift and thorough responses when public health is at risk. Stay informed, take appropriate precautions, and, if in doubt, seek guidance from health authorities to safeguard your well-being and that of your community.
(Source: CNN | New York Times)
