Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Hello Fresh Onions recall: Potential Salmonella Contamination

Recall published 6+ years ago

Potential Salmonella Contamination

Hello Fresh Fresh produce — recalled fresh produce
Photo published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Salmonella contamination

Salmonella is what triggered this notice. The bacteria transfer readily from hands and surfaces, which is why the clean-up matters as much as the disposal.

What the notice says: Potential Salmonella Contamination

Why it matters: Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States. It spreads easily from a contaminated product to hands, taps, cloths and other food in the same kitchen.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes salmonellosis as diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps that usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure and last about four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. Children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. Seek care for diarrhoea with a high fever, bloody stools, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine, a dry mouth or dizziness when standing.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
August 19, 2020
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Hello Fresh
Product type
Fresh produce

Products covered by this recall

Onions

What the company announced

HelloFresh has been informed by one of its ingredient suppliers that it is conducting a voluntary recall of its onions due to the potential presence of salmonella bacteria. Please discard all onions received from May 8 through July 31, 2020.

We recommend disposing of all onions received during the specified time period. For further information on whether you have been impacted, please check the product codes, located on the bottom square of your box shipping label. Please see the photo provided below as reference for locating the product code.

  • Production Week: 20 · Production Week Start Date: 5/08 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 2-3-5-6-17 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 81-82-84-86-92-94
  • Production Week: 21 · Production Week Start Date: 5/15 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 2-8-15-19 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-86-83-93
  • Production Week: 22 · Production Week Start Date: 5/22 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 2-5-6-9-20 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 87-88-89-93-90-94
  • Production Week: 23 · Production Week Start Date: 5/29 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 6-8-9-15-B- 3-5-20 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-84-86-87-89-91-92-95
  • Production Week: 24 · Production Week Start Date: 6/5 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 6-8-17- B · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-84-86-89-90-95-83-93
  • Production Week: 25 · Production Week Start Date: 6/12 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 3-4-10-15-18-17-19-20 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-87-88-95-82-87-88-95
  • Production Week: 26 · Production Week Start Date: 6/19 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 2-3- 8-12 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 88-89-84-93
  • Production Week: 27 · Production Week Start Date: 6/26 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 5-17- 4-15-18-20 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-87-89-90-91- 84-92-93
  • Production Week: 28 · Production Week Start Date: 7/3 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 3-9-10-12-15-17- 6 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 85-86-90-91
  • Production Week: 29 · Production Week Start Date: 7/10 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 3-20-7-21 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-88-89-90-92-96
  • Production Week: 30 · Production Week Start Date: 7/17 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 4-19-21 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-84-89-94-96- 83-95
  • Production Week: 31 · Production Week Start Date: 7/24 · HelloFresh Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 2-3-4-19-7-8-16 · Everyplate Product Codes* *Number sequence may vary: 82-92- 81-84-87-89-94-96-98

As noted above, customers should immediately discard all onions received. We also recommend extra caution in disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces and containers that may have come in direct contact with these products, as recommended by the FDA. In the event that the onions have been consumed, please note that thoroughly cooking the product to 165ºF/74ºC, as instructed by the recipe, will kill the salmonella bacteria.

If you are experiencing any symptoms, including but not limited to, fever, diarrhea, or nausea, please contact your healthcare provider immediately. Click here for more information from the FDA about this supplier recall and the potentially related symptoms.

We sincerely apologize for this supplier-related incident. Your safety is our highest priority and we have taken immediate steps to ensure our onions are no longer sourced from this supplier. All HelloFresh facilities are SQF (Safe Quality Food) certified, which is the highest level of food safety certification and our teams follow a rigorous process to maintain the safety and quality of our meal kits. If you have any additional questions, please contact HelloFresh at [email protected] .

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

What to do about Salmonella

Hello Fresh — Salmonella is what triggered this notice. The bacteria transfer readily from hands and surfaces, which is why the clean-up matters as much as the disposal.

  1. Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.
  2. Bag it and bin it, or take it back to the store — do not feed it to pets or livestock either.
  3. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling the pack, and wash any dish, utensil or surface it touched in hot soapy water.
  4. If you repackaged or froze it, check the freezer too. Salmonella is not killed by freezing.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: Please discard all onions received from May 8 through July 31, 2020.

Company contact: HelloFresh — Consumers: HelloFresh

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Hello Fresh fresh produce recalled?

Potential Salmonella Contamination Potential Salmonella Contamination

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official FDA — Company recall announcements record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Please discard all onions received from May 8 through July 31, 2020.

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