Onion recall – Spokane Produce

This post was updated on August 12, 2020.

The Spokane Produce onion recall is part of a major outbreak investigation – for complete up to date information on the 2020 onion recall, go to this page – ONION RECALL UPDATE

The Food Safety Insider keeps the page updated as we receive more detail.

Spokane Produce, Inc. of Spokane, WA has voluntarily recalled salsa products that contain onions.

This is part of an ongoing larger onion recall, a result of the expanded onion recall initiated by Thomson International, Inc., which resulted in a recall by Spokane Produce’s onion supplier.

These recalls are due to concerns of the potential for contamination by Salmonella spp.

Who is Spokane Produce?

Spokane Produce is an independent family owned produce company that sells produce, deli items and flowers to grocery stores, restaurants, wholesalers and government agencies primarily in the Northwest.

When did Spokane Produce announce the food recall?

August 10, 2020

No other Spokane Produce’s products are impacted by this recall.
As of August 11, 2020, no illnesses have been reported in association with these salsa products to date.

When did the FDA publish the announcement?

August 11, 2020

What food products are involved in this recall?

Salsa with onions.

The specific products subject to the recall are included below the FAQ along with product photos and current as of August 11, 2020.

What should I do if I purchased Spokane Produce salsa?

Consumers who purchased any of the products/best buy dates cited above are advised not to eat any product and should destroy or return the product to the place of purchase.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella bacteria are the most frequently reported cause of foodborne illness.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrheal illness in humans. Salmonella are microscopic bacteria that are passed from the feces of people or animals to other people or other animals.

Can I tell if food has salmonella?

If food is contaminated with salmonella, it does not usually affect the taste, smell or appearance of the food.

What are the symptoms and effects of salmonella?

Otherwise healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

People infected with salmonella can experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 8 to 72 hours after the contaminated food was eaten.

Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Symptoms usually disappear within 4 to 7 days.

Many people with salmonellosis recover without treatment and may never see a doctor.

However, salmonella infections can be life-threatening especially for infants and young children, pregnant women and their unborn babies, and older adults, who are at a higher risk for foodborne illness, as are people with weakened immune systems (such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, and transplant patients).

In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Are there long-term effects of Salmonella?

Yes, there can be.

Persons with diarrhea usually recover completely, although it may be several months before their bowel habits are entirely normal.

A small number of persons who are infected with Salmonella may develop pains in their joints, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination.

This is called Reiter’s syndrome.

It can last for months or years and can lead to chronic arthritis that is difficult to treat.

How do people get infected with Salmonella?

Salmonella lives in the intestinal track of humans and other animals, including birds.

Salmonella is usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

Salmonella can cause foodborne illness (salmonellosis) through cross-contamination, e.g., when juices from raw meat or poultry come in contact with ready-to-eat foods, such as salads or potentially in this case salsa.

Food may also become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler who might or might not be showing symptoms.

Salmonella can also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea.

People can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with these feces.

Reptiles are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella.

People should always wash their hands immediately after handling a reptile, even if the reptile is healthy.

What foods can give me Salmonella?

Any raw food of animal origin, such as meat, poultry, milk and dairy products, eggs, seafood, and some fruits and vegetables may carry Salmonella bacteria.

In this case, the onions in the Spokane Produce salsa have been potentially contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

The bacteria can also contaminate other foods that come in contact with raw meat and poultry.

The specific products subject to the recall are below and current as of August 11, 2020.

ITEM NUMBER	PRODUCT NAME	SIZE	BEST BY DATE
83260	Saddlin’ Up Salsa Hot	15 oz	8/16/2020
83259	Saddlin’ Up Salsa Medium	15 oz	9/30/2020
83259	Saddlin’ Up Salsa Medium	15 oz	8/5/2020
83258	Saddlin’ Up Salsa Mild	15 oz	8/11/2020
84032	Salsa Verde	15 oz	8/26/2020
84044	Salsa Verde	Gallon	9/28/2020
84044	Salsa Verde	Gallon	8/11/2020

Onion recall – Spokane Produce

Onion recall photos – Saddlin’ Up Salsa

Onion recall photos – Spokane Produce Salsa Verde

Onion Recall photos – Spokane Produce Salsa Verde

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