No End for Salmonella Outbreak

Despite identifying the source of a salmonella outbreak as red onions, the outbreak continues to spread, increasing from 34 states to 43, Associated Press reports.

So far 640 people have been sickened, with 244 in just the last week. New states affected include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, and West Virginia. Although 85 people have been hospitalized, there have been no deaths linked to the outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers as well as facilities that serve food to avoid onions from Thomson International Inc. Although the outbreak is linked to red onions, the advice applies to red, white, yellow, and sweet onions.

Some of the onions were sold at stores including Walmart, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Publix, Giant Eagle, Food Lion, and H-E-B, under a variety of brand names. Several companies have recalled onions and foods made with recalled onions like chicken salad, macaroni salad, fajita stir-fry, pizza, and diced raw onions, including Taylor Farms and Giant Eagle.