HelloFresh, EveryPlate Recall Products With Onions For Possible Health Risks
Two of America's most popular meal preparation services have recalled certain products made with onions due to the recent salmonella outbreak affecting 37 states.
On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in a press statement that the onions used in HelloFresh and EveryPlate food products have been recalled due to the "potential presence of salmonella bacteria." Both companies are asking consumers to discard onions that were received during the time period of July 7, 2021, through September 8, 2021.
"Please note that onions received after September 8, 2021 are not affected by this recall," said the FDA. "For further information on whether you have been impacted, please check the product codes, located on the bottom square of your box shipping label."
If anyone is experiencing any salmonella symptoms, the FDA recommends that they contact their healthcare provider immediately and visit the FDA website for more information.
On October 20, the FDA announced that all consumers and food sellers should throw out their onions due to the infectious outbreak, traced back to red, white, and yellow onions distributed by Idaho-based ProSource Produce. The onions were allegedly imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, from July 1 to August 27.
Both the FDA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to curb the onions from being distributed to consumers. The CDC also told consumers not to eat the multi-colored onions if they were distributed by ProSource Produce.
"If you can't tell where the onions are from, don't buy or eat them," the CDC said.
The salmonella outbreak has resulted in nearly 652 cases across 37 U.S. states, with 129 requiring hospitalization and no deaths reported. According to epidemiological data from the CDC, the number of cases may be higher due to whether a person sick with salmonella is part of the outbreak.
In August 2020, a similar outbreak occurred where red, yellow, white and sweet yellow onions were recalled by California wholesale produce distributor Thomson International, Inc.
"Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve red, white, yellow, or sweet onions from Thomson International, Inc. or products containing such onions," said the FDA in August 2020. "If you cannot tell if your onion is from Thomson International Inc., or your food product contains such onions, you should not eat, sell, or serve it, and should throw it out."
Newsweek has reached out to HelloFresh and EveryPlate for further comment.
