Onions Blamed For Salmonella Outbreak That's Sickened 12 NYers

NEW YORK — A salmonella outbreak that's sickened at least 12 New Yorkers has been traced to onions grown in Mexico, the Centers for Disease Control said. Consumers are being urged to stop eating the vegetables if they're from the producer or if they don't know where they were grown.

The CDC doesn't give a breakdown of where in New York the affected people lived.

Officials said Wednesday that across the country more than 650 people had been ill after consuming whole red, white, and yellow onions distributed by ProSource Inc. and imported from Chihuahua.

Investigators are still working to determine if other onions or suppliers are linked to the outbreak.

Of those affected, at least 129 were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak which started several weeks ago but has only just been connected to onions.

The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration are recommending that consumers not eat, sell, or serve the onions distributed by ProSource Inc. Red, white, or yellow onions that do not have a sticker or packaging identifying their source should also be thrown away.

Surfaces and containers these onions may have touched should be cleaned using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

People infected with salmonella often experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps some time between six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria, according to the CDC. Most people recover between four and seven days after being infected.

Children younger than 5 and adults 65 years and older may experience more severe illnesses that require hospitalization.

"Recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak," the CDC said. "The true number of sick people in an outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella."

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With reporting by Jeff Edwards/Patch