Recall Information Updated August 13, 2020 by the FDA:
On August 1, 2020, Thomson International, Inc. recalled all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions, due to the risk of cross-contamination. Recalled products include red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions shipped from May 1, 2020 to August 1, 2020.
Onions were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
The onions were distributed in 5 lbs. carton. 10 lbs. carton. 25 lbs. carton. 40 lbs. carton, 50 lbs. carton. bulk, 2 lb. mesh sacks, and 3 lb. mesh sacks, 5 lb. mesh sacks, 10 lb. mesh sacks 25 lbs. mesh sacks, 50 lbs. mesh sacks 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
Food Lion
Additionally, companies have initiated recalls or provided additional information for onions linked to the Thomson, International, Inc. recall, sold at the following retailers:
Publix Super Markets (red onions, packaged by Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A., Inc. and sold in bulk merchandise displays in AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, and VA)
Giant Eagle (red, yellow and white onions sold in produce departments in PA, OH, WV, IN and MD)
Trader Joe’s – Recalled by Progressive Produce, LLC (conventional red onions sold only in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah stores, and sold loose in bulk bins with PLU sticker with the brand name Pacific Gold)
Ralph’s – Recalled by Progressive Produce, LLC (conventional yellow onions sold only in California stores and sold loose in bulk bins with PLU sticker with the brand name Pacific Gold)
Walmart – Recalled by Thomson International (sold at select stores)
Kroger – Recalled by Thomson International (red, white, yellow, and yellow vidalia onions)
Food Lion – Recalled by Thomson International (red, white and yellow onions)
Products Containing Recalled Onions:
Giant Eagle (prepared products sold in PA, OH, WV, IN, MD)
Kroger – Recalled by Taylor Farms (macaroni and pasta salad sold in LA and TX)
Walmart – Recalled by Taylor Farms (Marketside diced yellow onions, diced mirepoix, and fajita stir fry tray sold in CO, IA, IL, KS, MO, ND, NE, OK, SD)
Spokane Produce (salsa sold in ID, MT, OR, WA)
Kroger (cheese dips)
Kroger Mid-Atlantic (cheese dips sold in VA, WV, and the eastern portions of TN (Johnson City/Kingsport), KY (Ashland), OH (Belpre/Marietta/Proctorville))
Kroger Delta Division (cheese dips sold in West TN, AR, MS, KY (Murray, Paducah), MO (Poplar Bluff))
Fry’s Food Stores (cheese dips)
Fred Meyer (cheese dips)
Smith’s (cheese dips)
The FDA, along with CDC, Canadian, state, and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections. FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified Thomson International, Inc. of Bakersfield, CA as a likely source of potentially contaminated red onions.
On August 1, 2020, Thomson International, Inc. recalled all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions, due to the risk of cross-contamination. Recalled products include red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions shipped nationwide from May 1, 2020 to August 1, 2020, sold under the following 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. Recalls have also been initiated by companies that sold onions at Publix Supermarkets, Giant Eagle, Trader Joe’s, and Ralph’s.
In addition, products containing the recalled onions are being identified and recalled. At this time, Giant Eagle, Taylor Farms, Spokane Produce, Kroger, Fry’s Food Stores, Fred Meyer, and Smith’s have recalled products containing recalled onions and USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published a list of Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Containing Recalled Onions. A full list of available recall information is included and will be updated as more products are identified and recalled.
The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and if additional products are linked to illness. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 640
Hospitalizations: 85
Deaths: 0
Illness Onset Date Range: July 23, 2020
States with Cases: AK (6), AL (1), AZ (14), CA (76), CO (14), CT (2), DE (1), FL (3), GA (1), ID (26), IL (41), IN (2), IA (20), KS (2), KY (1), ME (4), MD (1), MA (2), MI (36), MN (14), MS (2), MO (6), MT (52), NE (10), NV (8), NH(1), NJ (2), NM (1), NY (5), NC (5), ND (8), OH (8), OR (85), PA (9), SC (1), SD (17), TN (5), , UT (90), VA (8), WA (25), WV (2), WI (7), WY (16)
