Tag: Salmonella Newport

Salmonella case count soars in onion outbreak – UPDATED

As of August 7, 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of 640 confirmed cases of Salmonella Newport infections across 43 states.

Eight-five outbreak victims have required hospitalization.

In addition to the US outbreak, 239 confirmed cases have been reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) across seven provinces as of August 7th. Twenty-nine Canadians have been hospitalized.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) illnesses in both countries have been linked to red onions grown and supplied by Thomson International, Inc. (Thomson) of Bakersfield, CA.

On August 1st, Thomson recalled all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions, including red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions shipped from May 1, 2020 to present.

The recalled onions were supplied to customers in the USA and Canada under several brand names, including:

  • Thomson Premium
  • TLC Thomson International
  • Tender Loving Care
  • El Competitor
  • Hartley’s Best
  • Onions 52
  • Majestic
  • Imperial Fresh
  • Kroger
  • Utah Onions
  • Food Lion

In addition to the Thomson recall, companies in the United States and Canada have recalled Thomson-supplied onions or products that contain onions on the Thomson recall list. Please follow the links to the individual recall notices for a complete list of products.

US recalls

ALDI
Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy (Southwest Turkey Cobb Salads)
Costco Wholesale (multiple recall notices)
Department of Defense Commissaries
Giant Eagle
Food Lion
Fred Meyer
Fry’s Food Stores
H-E-B
Kroger
Martin’s Groceries, Supermarket & Pharmacy
Publix Super Markets
Schnucks
Smith’s
Stop&Shop
Super 1 Foods
Taylor Farms (products without meat)
Taylor Farms (products containing meat)
Walmart (multiple recall notices)

Canadian recalls

List of recalled products in Canada
Costco Canada
Freshpoint Foodservice
Giant Tiger
Multiple companies
Sysco

This outbreak is not over. Both CDC and PHAC are anticipating additional cases. To keep yourself and your family and your customers safe, please take note of the following guidance:

Advice to consumers

Check your home for red, white, yellow, and sweet varieties, including whole, sliced, or chopped onions, and any prepared foods that contain onions as an ingredient, such as premade salads, sandwiches, wraps, salsas or dips. 

  • If you have onions at home:
    • Look for a label showing where the onion was grown. It may be printed on the package or on a sticker. 
    • If the packaging or sticker shows that it is from Thomson International Inc., don’t eat it. Throw it away and wash your hands.
    • If it isn’t labeled, don’t eat it. Throw it away and wash your hands.
    • If you don’t know whether the onion found in a premade salad, sandwich, wrap, salsa or dip contains onions from Thomson International Inc., don’t eat it. Throw it away and wash your hands.
    • Wash and sanitize any surfaces that may have come in contact with onions or their packaging, such as countertops, fridge drawers, pantry shelves, knives, and cutting boards.
  • If you buy onions at grocery or convenience stores:
    • Make sure they are not selling onions from Thomson International Inc., or serving fresh foods prepared with them. 
    • If you can’t confirm that the onion in stores is not from Thomson International Inc., don’t buy it.
  • If you order salad or any other food items containing onions at a restaurant or food establishment:
    • Ask the staff whether their onions come from Thomson International Inc. If they did, or they don’t know, don’t eat it.
  • Do not eat any recalled food products. Check to see if you have recalled food products at home. If you do, throw them out and wash your hands. 
  • If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of a Salmonella infection, consult a healthcare practitioner immediate.
  • If you have been diagnosed with a Salmonella infection or any other gastrointestinal illness, do not cook food for other people.
  • Contact your local public health authority to report any food safety concerns at restaurants or grocery stores, or if you suspect food poisoning from a restaurant or other food establishments.

Advice to restaurants, retailers, suppliers and distributors

  • Check the label on bags or boxes of onions, or ask their suppliers about the source of their onions.
  • Do not ship or sell onions from Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California, USA, or any products made with these onions.
  • Clean and sanitize all surfaces and storage bins that onions may have come in contact with, including cutting boards, countertops, slicers, utensils, and containers used to store or transport them.

Recalls and Alerts: August 2 – 5, 2020

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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United States

OUTBREAK ALERT UPDATE: Contaminated red onions produced by Thomson International, Inc. (Bakersfield, CA) are linked to 396 confirmed cases of Salmonella Newport infections and 59 hospitalizations. Thomson has recalled all red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions shipped from May 1, 2020 to present.

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issues a public health alert for ready-to-eat (RTE) beef and chicken taquitos and chimichangas products containing FDA-regulated diced green chilies that have been recalled by the producer, Sun Valley Foods, LLC based in El Paso, Texas, due to concerns that the products may be contaminated with foreign matter (pieces of hard plastic). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: H-E-B recalls Blue Cheese Salmon Burgers (dates with dates up to and including 8/3/2020) due to undeclared wheat. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: SmithFoods Inc. recalls Earth Grown Vegan Non-Dairy Almond Based Frozen Desserts (16-oz / pint packs;  various flavors and Best By codes) due to undeclared cashews. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Canada

OUTBREAK ALERT and Food Safety Recall (Update): Botsis Fruits & Vegetables Inc., Fresh Forward Inc., Freshpoint Canada Inc., Fruiticana Produce Ltd., Krown Produce Inc., Persia Foods Products Inc., Seoul Trading Corp., Sewa Enterprises Ltd., and Sysco Canada Inc. recall red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions grown by Thomson International Inc., Bakersfield, California, and imported from the USA. The red onions have been linked to an outbreak of 120 Salmonella Newport infections in 7 provinces. Seventeen Canadians have been hospitalized.

Food Safety Recall: IGA Les Marchés Louise Ménard recalls various products, which have been altered in a way that makes them unsafe for consumption. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): Retail Partners Colruyt Group recalls Brochettes de dinde marinées / skewered marinated turkey (3 pieces and 16 pieces; Lots 2031212 & 2031213; Use by 06/8/2020 & 07/8/2020) due to Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (France): Leader Price recalls Leader Price brand Filets de harengs fumés doux / mild smoked herring filets (200g; Lot #Z1775 R HEF 016; Expiration date 10/08/2020) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Iceland): Reykjagarður hf. recalls Holta, Kjörfugl and Króna brands of fresh chicken – whole and pieces (Traceability numbers 002-20-26-3-01 and 003-20-26-2-01) due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Co-op recalls Co-op Sliced Curly Kale (160g; All Best Before dates between 04 and 11 August 2020; Product of UK) because the packs may contain thistle (spiky weeds).

Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Gold River recalls Gold River Quality Mixed Salad Leaves Seasonal Salad Box (1kg; All batch codes; All best before dates; Product of Ireland) due to possible Cryptosporidium contamination.

Food Safety Recall (Italy): Sublimis Srl recalls Il pastaio Ligure – Sublimis Srl – Sanremo IM brands of ravioli di borragine / borage ravioli (400g; Lot #2020501; Best before 17-08-2020) due to inadequate refrigeration.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Co-operative Food recalls Co-op Sliced Curly Kale (160g; All Best Before dates between 04 and 11 August 2020) because the packs may contain thistle (spiky weeds).

Australia and New Zealand

Food Safety Recall Update (Australia): Gerns Continental Smallgoods Pty Ltd recalls Gerns Smallgoods thin beef sausages (1.88 kg; Use by 06-08-2020; Best  before 04-08-2020) due to foreign matter (plastic) contamination.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): New Deli & Café recalls all batches and all dates of New Deli & Café brand frozen meals due to a lack of process control.

Onions recalled in US and Canada due to Salmonella outbreak

Thomson International, Inc. (Bakersfield, CA) has initiated a recall of Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions (shipped from May 1, 2020 through the present) after red onions supplied by the company were identified as the probable source of an outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections in the US and Canada.

Thomson has recalled the other varieties of onions as a precaution, as some of them may have come into contact with the red onions.

The recalled onions were supplied in 5 lbs. cartons, 10 lbs. carton, 25 lbs. carton, 40 lbs. cartons, 50 lbs. cartons, bulk, 2 lb. mesh sacks, 3 lb. mesh sacks, 5 lb. mesh sacks, 10 lb. mesh sacks, 25 lbs. mesh sacks, and 50 lbs. mesh sacks to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

The onions were sold under multiple brand names, including: Thomson  Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions and Food Lion.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced an industry-wide recall of red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions grown by Thomson International Inc. and imported into Canada on or after May 1, 2020.

The onions were sold in Canada under multiple brand names, including: El Competidor, Imperial Fresh, Onions 52, Tender Loving Care, Thomson International, Thomson International Premium and Thomson Premium. They are known to have been distributed in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Yukon, and may also have been shipped elsewhere in Canada.

Red onions grown and supplied by Thomson International are believed to be the source of an active outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections which has sickened 396 people in the United States and 120 people in seven Canadian provinces.

Authorities in both countries recommend that consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve red, white, yellow, or sweet onions from Thomson International, Inc. or products containing such onions. If you cannot tell if your onion is from Thomson International Inc., or your food product contains such onions, you should not eat, sell, or serve it, and should throw it out.