Claim: The FDA has issued a warning about a possible connection between Hepatitis A and green onions.
Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2003]
The Food and Drug Administration has advised the public to consider avoiding raw or lightly cooked green onions in the light of evidence linking them to recent In September, hepatitis A outbreaks associated with raw or lightly cooked green onions served in restaurants occurred in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia, the FDA said. Another outbreak that so far has involved more than The agency said consumers who are concerned about the risk of getting The green onions implicated in the Tennessee outbreak apparently came from Mexico, and the FDA has been working with Mexican authorities to assess the situation, officials said. The FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Pennsylvania Department of Health are investigating the Pennsylvania outbreak. A Pennsylvania Health Department official reported that The FDA said people who have recently eaten raw or lightly cooked green onions do not need to take any specific measures but should monitor their health. |
Origins: The text quoted above is essentially an accurate summary of a warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on
The Food and Drug Administration is advising the public that several recent Hepatitis A outbreaks associated with raw or undercooked green onions served in restaurants occurred in Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia in September. Another outbreak of FDA offers the following advice to consumers concerned about the possibility of getting Cook green onions thoroughly. This minimizes the risk of illness by reducing or eliminating the virus. Cook in a casserole or sauté in a skillet. Check food purchased at restaurants and delicatessens and ask whether menu items contain raw or lightly cooked green onions. Consumers who wish to avoid food that contains raw or lightly cooked green onions should specifically request that raw or lightly cooked green onions not be added to their food. Foods such as freshly prepared salsa and green salads often contain raw green onions. While the investigations are ongoing, FDA will closely monitor the safety of green onions and will take further actions as necessary to protect consumers. Consumers who have recently eaten raw or lightly cooked green onions do not need to take any specific measures, but should monitor their health. Consumers who are experiencing symptoms that could be hepatitis A should consult their health care providers or the local health department.
Consumers Advised That Recent Hepatitis A Outbreaks Have Been Associated With Green Onions
FDA, CDC and the States are actively investigating the outbreaks in an attempt to determine the source of the green onions associated with the outbreaks and how they became contaminated, so that corrective action can be taken.
In western Pennsylvania, a recent outbreak of
The State of Pennsylvania, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA are working together to investigate this outbreak. As of
Additional information:
 | Questions and Answers on Hepatitis A Outbreaks (FDA) |
Last updated: 20 February 2007
Sources: