WHITE OAK, MD. - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are investigating a potential outbreak of Salmonella identified in a voluntary onion recall from Bakersfield, Calif.-based Thomson International on Aug. 1.
Recalled products include red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions shipped from May 1, 2020, to the present. Onions were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
The onions were distributed in a variety of pack sizes under the brand names Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions and Food Lion.
“Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled onions from Thomson International, Inc. or products containing recalled onions,” said the FDA. “If you cannot tell if your onion is part of the recall, or your food product contains recalled onions, you should not eat, sell, or serve it, and should throw it out.”
On Aug. 5 Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets issued a voluntary recall of red onions, packaged by Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A., Inc.
The red onions were sold in bulk merchandise displays in the produce department in Publix stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Publix stores in Florida are not impacted by this recall. Bulk red onions contain the product look up number (PLU) 4082.
“As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted product has been removed from all store shelves which were subsequently cleaned and sanitized,” said Maria Brous, Publix communications director. "To date, there have been no reported cases of illness. Customers who have purchased the product in question may return the product to their local store for a full refund.”