Another retailer has recalled onions that came from a California grower because some of the onions from the company have been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Newport.
On the same day that Publix Super Markets announced it was pulling products because of the salmonella concerns, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported there were 640 cases involved in the outbreak, an increase of almost 250 in several days.
Canadian officials were still reporting 120 cases on Aug. 7, the day the CDC reported more illnesses in the outbreak.
Also on Aug. 7, the Food and Drug Administration reported it has initiated an investigation at Thomson International Inc., Bakersfield, Calif., which remains the sole source of onions linked to the outbreak.
The Publix recall is for red onions packaged by Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc., according a news release from Publix; the onions were originally recalled by Thomson International on Aug. 1. The company has recalled red, white, yellow and sweet onions shipped since May 1.
The Del Monte brand onions were sold in bulk merchandise displays at Publix stores in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, according to the Publix notice. The onions have PLU numbers of 4082. All lot codes shipped to Publix in July are involved in the recall. Onions in Florida Publix stores are not involved.
“As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted product has been removed from all store shelves which were subsequently cleaned and sanitized,” Maria Brous, Publix communications director, said in the notice. “To date, there have been no reported cases of illness (from onions sold at Publix).”
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