Throw Away Your Onions, They're Being Recalled Over Salmonella

It started with red onions, but now the recall has expanded quite a bit.

onion recall salmonella
Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

The FDA says you probably need to chuck your onions in the bin. A recall of the delicious tear-inducing vegetable is happening over a "multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections."

The FDA has tracked the outbreak back to Thomson International, Inc. in California, but if you're like me, the onions in your kitchen don't have a label on them. In that case, the FDA says you should throw them out. "If you cannot tell if your onion is part of the recall, or your food product contains recalled onions, you should not eat, sell, or serve it, and should throw it out," the FDA says in its announcement. Anything from Thomson shipped since May 1, 2020, is part of the recall. 

The initial recall was on red onions, which are believed to be the source of the problem. However, the recall has expanded to include red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions due to the potential for cross-contamination. Currently, the CDC is reporting cases of Salmonella in 34 states with 396 reported illnesses and 59 hospitalizations. 

The name of the company may not be familiar, but the products have been distributed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, where there is also a recall. The US recall started on August 1, a day after the Public Health Agency of Canada issued a recall on red onions from Thomson International.

"The onions were distributed... under the brand names Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions, and Food Lion," the recall states. You can find a list of label images in the FDA recall. There are a whole lot of varieties of the recalled packaging, with some having been sold at Kroger and Walmart locations. 

The FDA and CDC ask that anyone experiencing symptoms contact their health care provider immediately. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. If it gets more severe, symptoms may also include a fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, rash, and blood in urine or stool, the FDA says.

So, check the kitchen and don't risk it.

FDA Onion Recall List (Updated August 13)

Here's a list of the products recalled so far. You'll find more details at the FDA pages on the Monday recall, the Walmart and Kroger recall, the Giant Eagle prepared foods recall, meat recall largely associated with Taylor Farms, and the full Thomson International recall list. Links for salsa and cheese dip recalls from Spokane Produce and brands associated with Kroger are listed below. 

  • Pacific Gold red onions sold at Trader Joe's in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah
  • Yellow onions sold at Ralph's in California
  • Taylor Farms Macaroni Salad (9.9-ounce container) sold at Kroger
  • Taylor Farms Rotini Pasta Salad (10-ounce container) sold at Kroger
  • Taylor Farms Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich sold at Kroger
  • Marketside Driced Yellow Onion sold at Walmart
  • Marketside Diced Mirepoix sold at Walmart
  • Marketside Fajita Stir Fry (8-ounce tray) sold at Walmart
  • Taylor Farms Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich sold at Walmart
  • 48 different prepared foods sold at Giant Eagle
  • Yellow onions in mesh sacks under the brands Onion 52, Majestic, Hartley Best, Kroger, Thomson Premium, and Food Lion
  • Dozens of other onion varieties in mesh sacks, cartons, and bulk
  • Saddlin' Up Salsa Hot (15-ounce, best by date of August 16)
  • Saddlin' Up Salsa Medium (15-ounce, best by date of September 30 or August 5)
  • Saddlin' Up Salsa Mild (15-ounce, best by date of August 11)
  • Salsa Verde (15-ounce, best by date of August 26
  • Salsa Verde (gallon, best by dates of August 11 or September 28)
  • Find a list of the cheese dips sold from the stores at the following links: KrogerSmith's Food & Drug, Fry's Food Stores, Fred Meyer Stores
  • Taylor Farms Sausage Breakfast Scramble Bowl (produced on July 30 and 31)
  • Taylor Farms Cheddar Cheese & Chicken Salad Snack Tray (use by dates of August 6 or August 7)
  • Taylor Farms Chicken Salad (41.35-ounce bags, use by dates of August 4 and August 5)
  • Taylor Farms Chicken Salad Deli Snack (10-ounce container, best by dates of August 6 or August 7)
  • Taylor Farms HEB Shake Rattle Bowl Southwest Salad with Chicken (best if used by date of August 10)
  • Taylor Farms Marketside Southwest Style Salad with Chicken (17.25-ounce container, use by dates of August 11 and August 12)
  • Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse Ham Water Added in Vinegar Pickle

Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

Dustin Nelson is a Senior Staff Writer at Thrillist. Follow him @dlukenelson.