Gills Onions Recalls
| Date: | July 18, 2012 |
| Updated: | July 25, 2012 |
| What: | Gills Onions diced, slivered and whole peeled onions Gills Onions diced celery and onion mix |
| Why: | Listeria monocytogenes contamination |
| Scope: | Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington |
Update – July 25, 2012 – Gills Onions is expanding its July 18 recall to include additional onion products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The expanded product list below includes diced, slivered and whole peeled onions and diced onion/celery mix with use-by-dates on or before August 3.
Gills Onions and FDA have been conducting concurrent investigations into the possible cause of contamination that led to the company’s July 18 recall. In the course of these investigations, Listeria was found in the facility in which the July 18 recalled product was processed. As a precautionary measure, Gills Onions has expanded the recall to include all products processed in that facility and which may still be in the marketplace. This facility has been out of service since July 17, pending the outcome of the investigation and mitigation efforts.
Although none of the products included in this expanded recall has tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, the company is issuing this recall in order to minimize risk to public health. No illnesses have been linked to this recall.
Gills Onions of Oxnard, California is recalling a single day’s production of diced and slivered red and yellow onions and diced celery and onion mix because they may be contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recalled products, which are packaged under the brand Gill's Onions, were shipped between July 2-4, 2012 directly from Gills Onions to retailers in California, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and to Canada.
Gills Onions initiated the recall when the company was notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that a random sample of diced yellow onions taken at retail tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. As a precautionary measure, Gills Onions is recalling all products processed on the same day and on the same line as the sample that tested positive.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall.
A list of recalled products is below, updated for the July 25 expanded recall.
| Lot | Product | Use-by-date | UPC* |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | |||
| All | Diced Yellow Onions, 7 oz., Gills Onions label | On or before August 3 | 643550000405 |
| All | Diced Red Onions, 7 oz., Gills Onions label | On or before August 3 | 643550000412 |
| All | Slivered Yellow Sweet Onions, 5 oz., Gills Onions label | On or before August 3 | 643550000092 |
| All | Slivered Red Onions, 5 oz., Gills Onions label | On or before August 3 | 643550000009 |
| All | Diced Celery and Onion, 7 oz., Gills Onions label | On or before August 3 | 643550000429 |
| All | Diced Celery and Onion, 19 oz., Gills Onions label | On or before August 3 | 643550000351 |
| All | Diced yellow onions, 5 lb. bag, True Leaf label | On or before August 3 | 898634001018 |
| All | Whole peeled yellow onions, Western Onion label | On or before August 3 | 02060042553 |
| All | Diced yellow onions, 8 oz. clear plastic containers sold in Wegmans stores in Syracuse, NY |
On or before August 3 | 643550000498 |
| All | Diced Celery & Onions, 8 oz. clear plastic containers sold in Wegmans stores in Syracuse, NY |
On or before August 3 | 643550000504 |
| CANADA | |||
| All | Diced Yellow Onions, Gills Onions label Oignons jaunes frais, en dés, 198g |
On or before August 3 | 643550000443 |
| All | Diced Red Onions, Gills Onions label Oignons rouge frais, en dés, 198g |
On or before August 3 | 643550000450 |
| All | Diced Celery & Onions, Gills Onions label Céleri et oignons frais, en dés, 198g |
On or before August 3 | 643550000467 |
| *The UPC Code can also be found on products not included in this recall, so please refer to the lot code in order to identify the recalled product. | |||
Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it and should destroy or discard it. Consumers with questions may contact Gills Onions at 1-800-348-2255, Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Consumers with questions about food safety can Ask Heidi, a certified food safety professional.
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