New Delhi: More than 600 people have reportedly fallen sick from an outbreak of salmonella linked to red, white and yellow onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in United States of America (USA) announced on October 20.
Reports suggest that the onions were imported to the US on August 27, and could be easily stored for three to four months.
ProSource, the company that imported these onions has voluntarily recalled the whole shipment. It is noteworthy that the onions were distributed in 35 states in mesh bags and in carton.
The CDC says that 652 people were confirmed to have been infected with the outbreak strain, Salmonella Oranienburg all over the US. The affected people range in age from less than 1 year to 97 years. Of those victims, 129 were hospitalized.
The actual number of infections is likely higher because people are not regularly tested for salmonella, the CDC said.
The CDC further cautioned that, since it takes up to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak, more victims may be added to the total.
Onions can become contaminated at any point in the food supply chain from growing in the fields, during processing or distribution, or when they’re being prepared in a restaurant or home.
Reportedly, last year a salmonella outbreak from contaminated red onions caused more than 1,000 infections.
Kalinga AI