California Food Testing Laboratory

Huntington Beach, CA, September 18^th, 2020

Last month, a California company issued a voluntary recall of packages of red, yellow, white and sweet yellow onions that were shipped under 11 brand names. The onions have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella and were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

The announcement was posted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall list after an investigation by the agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may link the onions to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections. At the time of the recall posting, no specific source of contamination or contaminated shipment had been identified. FDA was investigating other potential sources of contamination and had not yet reached a final conclusion.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that is frequently associated with a number of common foods, including vegetables. For most people who become infected, they may develop diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness typically lasts 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment. For some however, the condition can be severe enough that they need to be hospitalized and hundreds of deaths are linked to Salmonella infections each year.

“Consuming Salmonella contaminated food products can make anyone become ill, but young children, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system are often most at risk,” said Joseph Frasca, LA Testing’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “LA Testing’s network of laboratories provide rapid PCR testing and traditional culturing methods to help identify contaminated products. Testing not only protects consumers, it also helps to safeguard food manufacturers and growers from the myriad of challenges and costs associated with these types of events.”

To learn more about testing for foodborne pathogens or other food testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: : AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.