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                Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness

Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness

                        Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
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                        Foodborne Pathogens Home
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          Recalls, Outbreaks & Emergencies
          Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness
          Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Onions (October 2023)Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Onions (October 2023)
  
  					FDA’s Investigation is complete. CDC declares outbreak over.
	
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    PrintSample Product Image from the Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Related to Onions (October 2023)
Additional Images

Product

Recalled Gills Onions-brand diced yellow onions, diced onions & celery, diced mirepoix, and diced red onions with use-by dates in August 2023.

The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) investigation is complete; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declares the outbreak over.

**Stores Affected**

Recalled Gills Onions were sold to foodservice and institutions nationwide and in Canada. The firm has directly notified foodservice customers who received recalled product.
	Recalled product was sold to retailers in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.**Symptoms of *Salmonella* Infection**

Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.

**Status**

Ended

**Recommendation**

Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled onions and should check their freezers if they froze recalled products. Full descriptions of recalled products sold to retailers in AZ, CA, ID, MT, OR, and WA can be found in the recall announcement.
	Direct customers, including restaurants, institutions, and retailers will be contacted by the company and should check their refrigerators and freezers and throw away recalled onions.
	Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a *Salmonella* infection after eating recalled onions.


Current Update

December 13, 2023

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, investigated an outbreak of *Salmonella* infections linked to recalled diced onions under the Gills Onions brand name.

As part of this investigation, FDA collected multiple water, environmental, and product samples from the farm that supplied the contaminated onions to Gills Onions. Six of the samples, three water and three environmental, were positive for *Salmonella* spp. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis confirmed that the strain of *Salmonella* found in isolates associated with three of the samples matched the same strain of *Salmonella* causing illnesses in this outbreak. Additional *Salmonella* isolates from the samples were detected, and CDC identified people who got sick with these strains of *Salmonella*. FDA and CDC partners reviewed the available data; however, there was not enough epidemiologic or traceback evidence to implicate a product or source of contamination for those illnesses.

As of December 4, 2023, CDC announced that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 80 illnesses in 23 states. There has been a total of 18 hospitalizations and one death associated with this incident. The last illness onset was November 11, 2023. FDA’s investigation is complete.

Case Count Map Provided by CDC

CDC Case Count Map for the Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Related to Onions (as of December 12, 2023)
Map of U.S. Distribution of Recalled Onions Sold at Retail

Map of U.S. Distribution of Recalled Onions Sold at Retail for the Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Related to Onions (as of October 24, 2023)
Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 80
Hospitalizations: 18
Deaths: 1
Last Illness Onset: November 11, 2023
States with Cases: AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, MA, MI, MT, NY, ND, OH, OR, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY
Foodservice Product Distribution*: Nationwide and Canada
Retail Product Distribution*: AZ, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA
*Distribution has been confirmed for locations listed, but product could have been distributed further.


Useful Links

CDC Outbreak Advisory
	Recall
	Food Safety Tips for Retailers and Consumers During an Outbreak
	Who to Contact
	What is *Salmonella*?


Product Images

Sample Product Images from Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Related to Onions (October 2023)
Sample Product Images from Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Related to Onions (October 2023)
Recalled Product

In response to this investigation, Gills Onions has voluntarily recalled diced yellow onion, diced onions & celery, diced mirepoix, and diced red onions. A full list of recalled retail products, including lot numbers, lot codes, and names of retail outlets can be found in the recall announcement.

International Distribution for Recalled Products

The recall impacts markets outside of the United States. Customer information provided by the firm shows that product was also distributed to foodservice customers to Canada. The firm has directly notified foodservice customers who received recalled product.

Previous Update

October 24, 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of *Salmonella* Thompson infections linked to fresh diced onions from Gills Onions of Oxnard, California.

Based on epidemiological data collected by CDC, 14 of 19 cases with information available reported exposure to fresh diced onions before becoming ill. Additionally, based on traceback data collected by FDA, FDA determined that onions processed at Gills Onions were available at points of service where people ate prior to becoming ill.

In response to this investigation, Gills Onions has voluntarily recalled diced yellow onion, diced onions & celery, diced mirepoix, and diced red onions.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses. FDA will update this advisory should additional consumer safety information become available.

Who to Contact

**Consumers who have symptoms**should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.

To report a **complaint**or **adverse event**(illness or serious allergic reaction), you can

Call an FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinatorif you wish to speak directly to a person about your problem.
	Complete an electronic Voluntary MedWatch form online.
	Complete a paper Voluntary MedWatch form that can be mailed to FDA.Submit Questions/Get Assistance

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                                                                                  Content current as of:
      12/13/2023
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesOutbreaks of Foodborne Illness

          
                        Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
          Public Health Advisories from Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
          Food Safety Tips for Consumers & Retailers During an Outbreak of Foodborne Illness
          Food Safety Resources for Produce Shippers and Carriers During a Foodborne Illness Outbreak
          Outbreak Investigation Reports
          How to Report Seafood-Related Toxin and Scombrotoxin Fish Poisoning Illnesses
          About the CORE Network
          CORE Annual Reports
          CORE Publications


                        Foodborne Pathogens
 
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