It is time for us to take a closer look at what we currently have in our produce drawers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a very important recall that is sure to have readers wondering if there is any food that they will need to throw out. This is as good of a time as any to be more vigilant about the food that you have in storage.
The CDC’s recall was issued on October 22, 2021. The agency believes that there are onions that have become tainted by salmonella and they are looking to keep our nation safe. These efforts are of the utmost importance, as 650 people in 37 states have already been sickened because of the outbreak.
According to the FDA’s investigations, the outbreak has already been traced back to the whole red, white, and yellow onions that were imported from Chihuahua, Mexico over the past summer.
The onions are being sold under the following brand names: Big Bull, Peak Fresh Produce, Sierra Madre, Markon First Crop, Markon Essentials, Rio Blue, ProSource, Rio Valley, and Sysco Imperia. They were distributed by ProSource Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho, which recalled the onions on October 20, 2021.
Salmonella poisoning is rarely fatal but it can cause any number of issues that most of us would much rather avoid. No one wants to be stuck dealing with fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Unfortunately, this outbreak has already led to the hospitalization of 129 people. That’s why people are being encouraged to look over their onions as soon as possible.
If they have stickers on them anywhere that point to a connection with ProSource or Mexico, they are probably better off being thrown out. Some may even decide to toss out all of the onions that they have on hand at the moment if they are looking to be on the safe side.
The CDC is also advising that we wash any surfaces and containers that may have come into contact with the contaminated onions.
This outbreak certainly provides all of us with a great excuse to clean out our fridge and make sure that we are getting rid of all the shriveled-up skins that have had a chance to collect inside. We will also be giving our kitchen a complete and total scrubbing down.