Salmonella Outbreak from Diced Onion Products Distributed in Long Term Care Settings

• By: Maureen Carland
• On: 10/26/2023 07:19:41
• In: Quality/Regulatory

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have jointly issued a food safety advisory concerning a Salmonella outbreak associated with the consumption of fresh diced onions. This outbreak has afflicted 73 individuals in 22 states and has been traced back to Gills Onions brand fresh diced onion products, which were distributed to long term care facilities.
 
Actions Recommended for Long Term Care Facilities:

1. Conduct a thorough check of your facility's freezers and refrigerators to identify and discard any recalled onion products.
2. Avoid serving any recalled Gills Onions products or dishes containing these recalled onion items.
3. Employ rigorous cleaning and sanitization procedures for items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled onion products.

 
Possible Symptoms of Salmonella:

• Most individuals infected with Salmonella typically manifest symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
• These symptoms generally appear within a window of 6 hours to 6 days after exposure to the bacteria.
• In the majority of cases, recovery occurs without medical intervention within 4 to 7 days.
• However, certain vulnerable populations, including children under 5 years of age, adults over 65 years of age, and individuals with compromised immune systems, may encounter more severe illnesses necessitating medical treatment or hospitalization.

 
 
Staff Contact: mcarland@mehca.org