34 states report Salmonella outbreak [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Almost 400 people have gotten sick due to a salmonella outbreak, which is likely linked to red onions, across 34 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• The CDC advises the public to refrain from eating, serving, or selling all kinds of onions, including red, white, yellow and sweet onions.
• The CDC suggests discarding onions if the package or sticker on the onion indicates it’s from Thomson International, Inc.

A salmonella outbreak has infected almost 400 people across 34 states — including New York, federal officials said. A California-based onion grower is the likely source of the outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A recall of all onions distributed after May 1 was initiated by Thomson International Inc., of Bakersfield, California. The voluntary recall came after 117 new cases were linked to its red onions in the last week, including four in New York, the CDC reported.

The recent outbreak has caused the hospitalization of 59 people but no fatalities have been reported.

The CDC advised consumers not to eat any onions, including red, white, yellow and sweet onions, with Thomson International’s name on the package or sticker.

“Although red onions have been identified as the likely source, other types of onions may be contaminated due to the way onions are grown and harvested,” the CDC said in a statement.

“If you don’t know where your onions are from, don’t eat, serve, or sell them or any food prepared with them,” the agency warned.

Thomson’s onions were distributed under the names TII Premium, El Competitor, Hartley, Onions 52, Imperial Fresh, Utah Onions and Food Lion, according to the New York Times.

Thomson’s onions made it as far as Canada, where another 114 salmonella cases were reported.

Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps anywhere from six hours to six days after bacteria exposure. and typically last four to seven days, the CDC said.

According to federal data, salmonella causes over 1.35 million infections and 400 deaths per year in the U.S.

Source: New York Post