Onion

  • Diced red onions recalled for listeria

    Posted: May 19th, 2012 - 7:20pm by Doug Powell

    Seasonal eating is easy and a privilege in the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane – it ain’t Canada.

    Those sweet purple (red) onions, delicious roasted on their own or in many dishes, were $0.19/kg a couple of weeks ago (something shy of $0.09/pound).

    I’m still feeling good about that deal. And an excellent addition to tonight’s duck stew.

    So I’m not sure why people get other people to chop up their onions but they do, even in Canada, where onions are a winter staple.

    The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Gills Onions brand Fresh Diced Red Onions described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

    The affected product, Gills Onions brand Fresh Diced Red Onions, Product of U.S.A., is sold in 198 g packages, bearing UPC 6 43550 00045 0, Best Before date 05/17/12, and lot code 51RDA1A2119.

    This product is known to be distributed in Ontario and may have been distributed nationally.

    There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

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    Listeria  |  0 Comments
    dice, duck stew, food safety, Listeria, Onion
  • Lawsuit continues for 235 sickened with E. coli O157:H7 at Harvey’s in Ontario in 2008

    Posted: May 20th, 2011 - 10:02pm by Doug Powell

    In the fall of 2008, 235 people got sick dining at a Harvey’s fast-food restaurant at a major thoroughfare in North Bay, Ontario, about four hours north of Toronto (that’s in Canada).

    A report by the North Bay and District Health Unit concluded the outbreak was probably caused by raw Spanish onions and poor cleaning of onion slicing machines.

    Today, the North Bay Nugget reported that depositions are scheduled to continue this month in a class-action suit against the restaurant, according to the law firm handling the claim.

    The statement of claim alleges Cara Operations Ltd., 1233280 Ontario Inc. and Summit Food Distributors were negligent because they provided food or beverages contaminated with E. coli, says the website for law firm Sutts, Strosberg LLP.

    It says depositions started in November with a representative from each party asked questions about documents that had been produced and issues in the lawsuit.

    These examinations were adjourned when it was learned the franchise owner also filed a separate lawsuit against Cara and others claiming the outbreak at the restaurant "ruined their business and caused the business to be sold at a loss."

    The claim was filed on behalf of all people who ate the restaurant from Sept. 12, 2008 to Oct. 12, 2008 and all people who were infected due to secondary contact with them.

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    E. coli  |  0 Comments
    e. coli O157:H7, food safety, Harvey's, Lawsuit, North Bay, Onion
  • Ontario E. coli outbreak likely caused by Spanish onions: 235 sickened

    Posted: June 22nd, 2009 - 11:20am by Doug Powell

    In a refreshing change for Canadian public health, a report has actually been issued regarding an outbreak of foodborne illness – specifically the 235 people who got sick dining at a Harvery’s restaurant at a major thoroughfare in North Bay, Ontario, last fall, four hours north of Toronto.

    Apparently it was the Spanish onions.

    The North Bay and District Health Unit also criticized the inconsistent cleaning practice of the onion dicer (below, left, exactly as shown).

    The full report is available at http://www.healthunit.biz/docs/Ecoli%20Outbreak/2008%20NBPSDHU%20Ecoli%20Report_June%202009_Formatted.pdf

    Some questions: where did the onions come from? Health types say they don’t know. How could a Harvey’s not know where its onions were coming from? Or at least provide a list of options? There were also outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in southern Ontario at the same time. Same onions?

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    E. coli  |  4 Comments
    Harvey's, North Bay, Onion