Red Onions linked to Salmonella outbreak in US , Canada : CDC issues Food Safety Alert

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has linked red onions to a recent Salmonella Outbreak across the Us and Canada.

According to the CDC, nearly 400 people in 34 states have been infected with salmonella , a bacteria that affects the intestinal tract, causing diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, from six hours to six days after being exposed to the bacteria.

 Health officials said that red onions potentially contaminated with bacteria were shipped to supermarkets and restaurants in all 50 states and Canada, resulting in the outbreak.

On Saturday (August 1) , Thomson International Inc., voluntarily recalled yellow onions as they may be contaminated with Salmonella as per the CDC.

Both the US FDA and CDC are now advising people to avoid consuming any onions from Thomson International Inc.

Guidelines to protect yourself :

• Throw your onions away if you can't tell where they are from, even if no one got sick.
• Wash and sanitize any surfaces such as counter tops, refrigerator, drawers, knives, and cutting boards, etc. that may have come in contact with onions or their packaging.
• When eating out or shopping for food, people should check with restaurants and grocery stores to make sure they are not serving or selling recalled onions from Thomson International Inc. or foods prepared with them- salads, sandwiches, wraps, salsas, and dips, etc.
• Suppliers, distributors, and other in the supply chain should not ship or sell recalled onions.

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection :

Generally people with salmonella infections have no symptoms. However, other symptoms may develop diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache,blood in the stool, etc, with 8 to 72 hours of exposure.

The symptoms may last four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment or antibiotics.

In severe cases, patients may need hospitalization. Adult 65 years and older people with weakened immune systems such as HIV infection or chemotherapy treatment, and children below five years are more likely to have a severe illness. 

Patient should drink extra fluids as long as diarrhea lasts.

How to Prevent Salmonella infection : 

The following tips can reduce your risk of salmonella infection and help you stay safe : 

• Practice good hygiene such as washing your hands with soap and water after handling raw meat or poultry, touching animals, their toys and their bedding.
• Wash raw fruits and veggies well and peel them if possible.
• Avoid eating raw or barely cooked eggs, raw or under cooked beef, pork, poultry.
• Refrigerate food properly.
• Make sure to clean your kitchen surfaces properly before preparing food on them.
• Do not mix cooked food with raw food or use the same utensils to prepare them.