Food Recalls

Check your pantries: nearly 900 people sick linked to baby spinach/onions

About pathogenic E. coli infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated spinach and developed symptoms of food poisoning should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms of harmful E. coliinfections often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. While most patients recover within five to seven days, some can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications.

About 5 to 10 percent of those who are diagnosed with pathogenic E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor. Individuals with these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.  The young, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at heightened risk for serious complications for any foodborne illness.

An ongoing investigation into outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections associated with fresh onions from Mexico has sickened at least 892 people across 38 states and Puerto Rico.  The recall is only linked to onions from Mexico. Texas has been hardest hit with 207 illnesses reported. 

Recalled are red, white, yellow, and sweet onions distributed nationwide. As the onions were imported and have likely been repackaged check any packaged onions that you may have on hand. If you are not entirely sure of the county-of-origin of loose onions that you may have purchased, it’s best to discard them rather than risk illness. At least a partial list of retailers who may have distributed recalled onions is here.

How do you know if packaged onions that you may have on hand are safe to consume? Onions that I have in my pantry and purchased at a local Kroger/Fresh Market have a tag stating ‘Product of the U.S.’ ; onions originating in the U.S. are not involved in the recall.  Packaged onions that are a product of Mexico should have a tag on the bag stating ‘Product of Mexico.’

Due to the extensive nature of this recall, consumers are urged to check their pantries. The CDC also provides information on:

And….one final recall. Seneca Foods Corporation is recalling Aunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beets because of a “lack of acidulant.”  This means that the beets were not properly pickled (acidified) and may present a risk of Clostridium botulinum poisoning. Botulism is an often fatal foodborne illness. The beets were also distributed under the Happy Harvest label by Aldi stores.

The recalled products were distributed in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Implicated are nearly 200,000 jars of pickled beets sold under the Aunt Nellie’s label at major groceries, or under the Happy Harvest label at Aldi stores.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECALLED  PRODUCTS AND FOOD SAFETY – CLICK HERE