More than 650 people in 37 states have been sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to imported onions, federal health officials said on Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration said that an investigation had identified ProSource Inc, of Hailey, Idaho, as a source of potentially contaminated whole, fresh onions imported from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.

At least 129 people have been hospitalised in the outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No deaths have been reported, the agency said.

ProSource indicated that the onions were last imported on August 27, according to the CDC. But the onions can last up to three months in storage and may still be in homes and businesses, it said.

The FDA advised restaurants, retailers and consumers not to eat, sell or serve red, yellow and white onions supplied by ProSource that were imported from Chihuahua from July 1 through August 27, or products containing those onions.

ProSource, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday night, has agreed to voluntarily recall the onions, the FDA said.

The onions may have stickers or packaging indicating the brand (ProSource Inc.) and the country, Mexico, where they were grown.

The CDC also urged consumers to throw away any whole red, white or yellow onions they have at home that do not have a sticker or packaging indicating where they are from.

New York Times News Service