Green Onions cause Hepatitus A

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 hepatitis A outbreaks.

November, 2003: Still TRUE Today!

In September, 2003, 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 500 people in Pennsylvania is ongoing. The outbreak has been linked with a major restaurant chain, but the FDA said it has not been tied to a specific food.

The agency said consumers who are concerned about the risk of getting hepatitis A from green onions should cook them thoroughly, which reduces or eliminates the virus. At restaurants and delicatessens, consumers should request that raw or lightly cooked green onions not be added to their food. Foods like freshly prepared salsa and green salads often contain green onions.

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 510 cases of hepatitis A, with three deaths, had been confirmed to the Pennsylvania outbreak as of November 15, according to an Associated Press report. The official, Richard McGarvey, said more infections were expected because people who contract the disease typically don't experience symptoms for 28 to 30 days.

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. Hepatitis A is usually mild and is characterized by jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, and fever, officials said. The disease is sometimes severe, especially in people with liver disease.

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