Salmonella outbreak linked to diced onions affects multiple states

A Salmonella outbreak has been linked to diced onions, with over 70 reported cases and 15 hospitalizations. This outbreak has spread to 22 states across the country, and the source of the issue has been identified as packages of Gills Onions.

Gills Onions has issued a recall of all potentially contaminated products, and these items have been removed from store shelves. However, consumers should remain vigilant if they have these products at home, mixed in with other foods, or stored in the freezer. The FDA has noted that the affected products have “use by” dates ranging from August 8, 2023, through August 28, 2023.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collaborating to gather information about the outbreak. They have identified five specific products from Gills Onions that consumers should avoid:

• Three-pound bags of diced yellow onions
• Eight-ounce cups of diced yellow onions
• Eight-ounce cups of diced celery and onions
• 10-ounce cups of diced mirepoix
• Eight-ounce cups of diced red onions

Retailers that have sold the contaminated vegetables include Smart & Final, Bashas Markets, CHEF’STORE, and Stater Bros. Although the onions were distributed in six states – Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and California – the infections have spread across the country. California and Utah are the primary hotspots, with 17 cases reported in each state.

Other affected states include Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Georgia, New York, and Massachusetts.

According to the CDC, illnesses linked to Gills Onions started as early as August 2, 2023. While over 70 cases have been officially reported, the agency believes that the actual number of infections may be significantly higher. Consumers are advised to dispose of any potentially contaminated products found at home and promptly sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated onions.