FDA officials continue to investigate a Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak attributed to whole fresh onions from Mexico, the outbreak has ended with more than 1,000 people sickened. A total of 1,040 people from 39 states had been infected. The Salmonella outbreak has remained from May 31, 2021 through January 1, 2022.
FDA continues to work with the U.S. importers, ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms to determine if adequate precautions were taken for foreign suppliers. Some of the onions were sold in unmarked bulk containers at retailers.
“In September 2021, as part of the ongoing investigation to determine the illness-causing product, FDA’s import operations implemented enhanced Salmonella screening for onions imported into the United States,” according to an FDA statement.
“As a result of this outbreak, FDA initiated domestic on-site investigations, as well as Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) inspections of domestic companies that imported onions from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. By inspecting these U.S. importers, FDA can determine whether they are in compliance with applicable FSVP requirements, including conducting certain risk-based activities to verify that imported food meets U.S. safety standards.
FDA intends to consider using additional tools, such as screening and sampling of imports, during the upcoming growing season.
On October 20, 2021, ProSource Produce LLC issued a recall. On October 22, 2021, Keeler Family Farms issued. Several companies issued additional recalls of onions packaged under different brand names and used as ingredients in other foods.
