Read This If You Recently Bought Onions From Walmart Or Kroger
Onions can be such a healthy food — a natural remedy that can help treat colds, asthma, tooth decay, and maybe even serious conditions such as heart disease and cancer. They are not without their downsides, however. Everybody knows about the dreaded "onion breath," and eating onions can also lead to bloating, belching, and heartburn. Not to mention, preparing them can quite literally make you bawl like a baby.
Well, here's yet more bad news about this tasty, yet stinky veggie: They can also make you very, very sick with a food-borne illness depending on where you made your recent onion purchase.
The details about the onion recall
In fact, if you recently purchased onions, you may be in immediate danger of contracting salmonella. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a statement on July 31, 2020 saying that they are currently investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonella linked to potentially contaminated red onions, but also warning that white, yellow, and sweet onions could pose a risk due to the possibility of cross-contamination.
The FDA has identified Thomson International, Inc. of Bakersfield, California as the likely producer of these contaminated onions. Business Insider reveals that Thomson onions are sold at Kroger, Walmart, and Food Lion stores under a number of different brand names, but the FDA recommends throwing out any onions, or onion-containing food items unless you are absolutely sure that the onions are not Thomson-produced. They also caution extra vigilance when it comes to cleaning any containers or surfaces that may have come into contact with such onions. The onions, which were shipped to all 50 states as of May 1, are being recalled.
How many people have been affected by the outbreak?
There have been 396 confirmed cases since July 12 of salmonella linked to these onions, and the outbreak has spread to 34 states as well as to Canada. As yet there have been no fatalities, although 59 people have become so ill that they've needed to be hospitalized. If you are experiencing any salmonella symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and cramping, the FDA suggests you contact your health care provider right away. Symptoms of a more serious case could include body aches, headaches, lethargy, rashes, or passing blood when you use the toilet.
If you notice any of these, please get help ASAP, since there is a chance that a bad case of salmonella, left untreated, could prove fatal.