Pulled from Publix shelves: Onions recalled for possible listeria contamination

Paul Nutcher, The Ledger
·3 min read
5

Vidalia onions were pulled from Publix Super Markets Inc. shelves due to possible listeria contamination, according to a recall notice from the grower and posted Friday on the Publix website.

A&M Farms of Lyons, Ga. initiated the voluntary recall on Thursday of select whole Vidalia onions packed on one of its packing lines between June 20 and June 23, a company statement said on the U.S Food and Drug Administration website.

Spokeswoman Amy Philpott for A&M Farms said, the only Vidalia onions under the recall have the generic PLU number 4195 for the vegetable and show the Little Bear brand label and were for sale at limited Publix stores in Georgia and Florida and Wegman's stores are part of the recall.

"Most never made it to the store or were destroyed," Philpott said. For example, Sam Club onions were destroyed by the retailer, the FDA website said.

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This FDA picture shows the label on the Vidalia onions recalled last week by A&M Farms after deliveries to Publix and Wegman's grocery stores.
This FDA picture shows the label on the Vidalia onions recalled last week by A&M Farms after deliveries to Publix and Wegman's grocery stores.

The grower's statement said the Vidalia onions "have the potential to be contaminated with 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."

According to the Center for Disease Control about 48 million people – about one in six Americans – get sick annually from foodborne illnesses. Of those sickened, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die each year in the United States.

Nationwide, about 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die, the CDC said. The hospitalization rate is 94%.

The Florida Department of Health did not respond immediately about any recall-related listeria cases in the state.

The last listeria outbreak in Florida

Deland Publix store produce department.
Deland Publix store produce department.

The last listeria outbreak in Florida occurred during January 2021 in Sarasota at the Big Olaf Creamery, which spread to multiple states, an NBC News report said citing a CDC investigation. One died and 22 others were hospitalized in that outbreak.

The recalled Vidalia onions were sold in bulk by weight in the produce section of retail stores, including Publix Super Markets and Publix GreenWise Market.

The Ledger reached out to Publix spokesperson Hannah Herring for comment but did not receive a response.

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The onions were for sale at Publix stores in Florida

The onions were for sale June 22 to 24, 2022 at Publix stores in Florida and in the southern Georgia counties of Barrow, Clarke, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Oconee and Walton counties.

Shoppers who may possess the recalled onions should not consume them. They can dispose of the vegetable themselves or return them with a receipt to the customer services desk in stores.

“The health and safety of consumers are our top priorities here at A&M Farms," said Aries Haygood, co-owner of A&M Farms. "We are glad that most of the implicated product never reached stores, but we are focused intently on alerting consumers in those areas that did receive the onions.”

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Vidalia onions recalled from Publix for possible listeria contamination