Source Found for Widespread Salmonella Outbreak

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified red onions as the source of a widespread salmonella outbreak that has sickened 396 people from 34 states. So far 59 people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported.

The outbreak spread from 23 to 34 states in the last week. The CDC is warning facilities that handle food to not serve any onions from Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California. If your facility is unaware of where your onions are from, don’t serve any food prepared with them. Although only red onions have been identified as the likely source of the outbreak, other types of onions such as white, yellow, and sweet may be contaminated as well due to the way onions are grown and harvested.

Symptoms of salmonella include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, headache, and stomach cramps. Although most people recover from the illness, those with weakened immune systems, children under 5 years of age, and adults over 65 are more at risk of severe symptoms or even death.