As we make shopping lists for holiday meal preparation, it’s a good time to check your pantry or refrigerator for recalled food items that are currently linked to nearly 900 illnesses. Certain brands ofprepackaged baby spinachandfresh onionsare currently under national recall.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced a newE. coliO157:H7 outbreak investigation that is linked to two brands of prepackaged baby spinach. The spinach was distributed nationally. Two brands are implicated,Josie’s OrganicsandFresh Thyme. Both brands distributed bagged, baby spinach. There have been at least 10 people affected in this outbreak, with at least two hospitalizations. One case in Minnesota reported eating Josie’s Organics organic baby spinach purchased from HyVee market, and the other Minnesota case reported Fresh Thyme organic baby spinach purchased from Fresh Thyme. Additional updates will be posted to theCDC website.
About pathogenicE. coliinfections.Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated spinach and developed symptoms of food poisoning should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. The symptoms of harmfulE. coliinfections often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. While most patients recover within five to seven days, some can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications.
About 5 to 10 percent of those who are diagnosed with pathogenicE. coliinfectionsdevelop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor. Individuals with these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. The young, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at heightened risk for serious complications for any foodborne illness.
An ongoing investigation intooutbreak ofSalmonellaOranienburg infections associated with fresh onionsfrom Mexicohas sickened at least 892 people across 38 states and Puerto Rico. The recall isonly linked to onions from Mexico. Texas has been hardest hit with 207 illnesses reported.
Recalled are red, white, yellow, and sweet onions distributed nationwide. As the onions were imported and have likely been repackagedcheck any packaged onions that you may have on hand.If you are notentirely sureof the county-of-origin of loose onions that you may have purchased, it’s best to discard them rather than risk illness. At least a partial list of retailers who may have distributed recalled onions ishere.
How do you know if packaged onions that you may have on hand are safe to consume?Onions that I have in my pantry and purchased at a local Kroger/Fresh Market have a tag stating ‘Product of the U.S.’ ; onions originating in the U.S. arenotinvolved in the recall. Packaged onions that are a product of Mexico should have a tag on the bag stating ‘Product of Mexico.’
Due to the extensive nature of this recall, consumers are urged to check their pantries. The CDC also provides information on:
And….one final recall.Seneca Foods Corporation is recallingAunt Nellie’s Sliced Pickled Beetsbecause of a “lack of acidulant.” This means that the beets were not properly pickled (acidified) and may present a risk ofClostridium botulinumpoisoning.Botulism is an often fatal foodborne illness. The beets were also distributed under theHappy Harvestlabel byAldi stores.
Therecalled productswere distributed in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia andWisconsin. Implicated are nearly 200,000 jars of pickled beets sold under theAunt Nellie’s labelat major groceries, or under theHappy Harvestlabel at Aldi stores.
