Oxnard-based Gills onions may be contaminated with Listeria

The nation's largest producer of fresh-cut onion products is possibly involved

Workers harvest onions in a Texas field. The nation's largest producer of fresh-cut onion products are now recalling possibly contaminated sliced, diced and whole peeled onions.

 California public health officials are warning consumers against eating onion products from a Southern California onion processing plant, as they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The nation's largest producer of fresh-cut onion products, Oxnard-based Gills Onions, has initiated a voluntary recall of their sliced, diced and whole-peeled onion products (including the company's onion/celery mix) due to a possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The recalled onions were shipped to retail stores in a dozen states, including California.

Health officials say eating food contaminated with Listeria can cause serious illness and even death, but that it rarely affects healthy adults. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The affected products are packaged in various-sized plastic bags and re-closeable plastic tubs that have a use-by date on or before August 3, 2012.

This recall marks the second by the Ventura County company since May, when Gills recalled more than 2,300 pounds of diced red onions. No illness resulted from that case, and so far there have been no reports of listeriosis from this most recent incident.

The company has directly notified all customers who received the recalled product and requested removal from store shelves.

Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it and should destroy or discard it.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm313576.htm