Onion

Question

Hello,

I heard that onions could be harmful for the CF patients because they might contain the B. cepacia bacteria.
Can we still eat it? Even raw?
Thank you for your answers.

Answer

Hello,

The bacteria known as "cepacia" (the most common species of Burkholderia cepacia, B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans) are environmental bacteria present in particular in the rhizosphere of plants, the part of the soil around the roots of Plants and are rich in micro-organisms (microbes, fungi) that feed on debris from dead plants. Before being described in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis or immune-compromised patients, these bacteria were first known as phytopathogens (organisms causing plant diseases), responsible among other things for the "soft rot of the onion".

The risk of getting contaminated by consuming an onion is very low. Healthy onions carry very few "cepacia"; Only the very damaged onions (a priori unfit for consumption because rotten) could possibly constitute a risk.

If in doubt, do not hesitate to peel and wash the onions for a raw consumption (this applies to all fruits and vegetables). Cooked onions are safe.

Hope this answer can help.

Best wishes
Gilles RAULT, MD, Roscoff CF Center
and
Geneviève HERY-ARNAUD, Microbiologiste, CHU de Brest

14.02.2017