If you don’t know where your onions come from, discard them to prevent salmonella, says the CDC

(CNN) – A salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 600 people in 37 US states has been linked to several types of imported onions, federal health officials said Wednesday.

“Throw away unlabeled onions at home. Do not eat, sell, or serve red, white, or yellow onions imported from Mexico and distributed throughout the US by ProSource Inc,” warned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. USA (CDC) in a Tweet.

The CDC They said 652 people have been infected with salmonella and there have been 129 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported.

“Epidemiological and tracking data show that a source of infections in this outbreak is whole red, white and yellow onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, and distributed throughout the United States by ProSource Inc,” the CDC said in a statement.

Several people who contracted salmonella ate onions at the same restaurant, according to epidemiological interviews conducted by the CDC.

The number of people sickened by this salmonella outbreak is likely higher than reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the reported states, the CDC said.

“This is because many people recover without medical attention and are not tested for salmonella,” the agency said.

What are the symptoms of salmonella?

In addition to throwing away onions, people should wash contact surfaces and see a doctor if they develop severe salmonella symptoms.

Symptoms include bloody diarrhea and high fever, extensive vomiting, and signs of dehydration, which generally begin six hours to six days after infection, according to the CDC.

Federal health officials are investigating to determine if other onions and suppliers are linked to this outbreak.

An estimated 1.35 million cases of salmonella occur annually in the United States, with about 420 deaths, according to the CDC. The infection usually occurs by eating food contaminated with animal feces.

Last year, onions were also the cause of a salmonella outbreak that infected 640 people in more than 40 states.

Also last year, at least 55 people fell ill in 12 different states after a salmonella outbreak was linked to dried wood ear fungi, the CDC said. And peaches and their products were recalled in 2020 after 101 people fell ill in 17 states from fruit-related salmonella poisoning.

CNN’s Virginia Langmaid contributed to this report.