Tomatoes Linked To Salmonella Outbreak

Fresh, Uncooked Tomatoes Believed The Culprit Behind Sickness Of Dozens In 9-States

(AP)  An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has now been reported in nine states.

U.S. health officials said Tuesday that lab tests have confirmed illnesses in Texas and New Mexico as the same type of salmonella, right down to the genetic fingerprint. An investigation by Texas and New Mexico health authorities and the Indian Health Service tied those cases to uncooked, raw, large tomatoes.

The New Mexico Department of Health said that so far, 39 people from nine counties in New Mexico have become ill from the strain of salmonella, called salmonella Saintpaul. There have been no deaths, but several people have been hospitalized.

The New Mexico patients, who began to become ill on May 6, have come from Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, Dona Ana, McKinley, Otero, San Juan, Sandoval and Socorro counties.

At least 17 people in Texas and New Mexico have been hospitalized. None have died, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An additional 30 people have become sick with the same infection in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Illinois and Indiana. CDC investigators are looking into whether tomatoes were culprits there, too.

In Texas and New Mexico, raw large tomatoes - including Roma and red round tomatoes - were found to be a common factor in the illnesses. But no farm, distributor or grocery chain has been identified as the main source, said Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC epidemiologist working on the investigation.

"The specific type and source of tomatoes is under investigation," she said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday alerted consumers in New Mexico and Texas that the outbreak appeared to be linked to certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing raw red tomatoes, but said the specific type and source was under investigation.

The FDA suggested people in the two states limit their tomato consumption to tomatoes that have not been implicated in the outbreak. Those include cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and homegrown tomatoes.

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. The bacteria are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

Most infected people suffer fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps starting 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness tends to last four to seven days.

Many people recover without treatment. However, severe infection and even death is possible. Infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for severe infections.

In Texas and New Mexico, patients ranged in age from ages 3 to 82. Most were interviewed and most said they ate raw tomatoes from either stores or restaurants before becoming ill between April 23 and May 27.

[bluestardad]

HEY MEDICAL FIELD!

CURE SOMETHING!

ANYTHING!

QUIT TREATING ILLNESS MAKING BILLIONS AND CURE IT!

PROVE YOU ARE WORTH THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AMERICA SPENDS ON YOU BEGGARS AND THIEVES EACH YEAR!

AMERICA DESERVES BETTER THAN YOU ARE GIVING IT!

AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!

[brianbwb-2009]

First "Blazing Saddles" now "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes", we can only hope that "Independence Day" doesn''t come true also!!! ; )

[lewiston14]

Great now I cant eat tomatoes, what is next ecoli paper plates

[dabeatman]

I can''t stand it when these stupid news organizations write articles about salmonella-tainted vegetables BUT DO NOT SAY A *** THING IN THE STORY ABOUT HOW TO AVOID GETTING IT!! Wash it with soap and water? Will that do it? Talk about incomplete reporting! Do a service to the public and print how we can avoid getting sick!

[talkingham]

Yeah the story is stupid like usual. However, the ecoli can be inside the tomato and washing will not help. If this many people are getting it, it''s probably inside the tomato.

[laterlus]

If you want info on what to do to prevent/avoid illness go to http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/

[alphaa10-2009]

Here is what CDC has to say about Salmonella prevention---

Advice to consumers

* In New Mexico and Texas, until the source of the implicated tomatoes is determined, persons with increased risk of severe infection, including infants, elderly persons, and those with impaired immune systems, should not eat raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home, and persons who want to reduce their risk of Salmonella infection can avoid consuming raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home.

* Avoid purchasing bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.
* Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water.
* Refrigerate within 2 hours or discard cut, peeled, or cooked tomatoes.
* Keep tomatoes that will be consumed raw separate from raw meats, raw seafood, and raw produce items.
* Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between types of food products.

[texas0871]

The specific types of tomatoes is so very vague, someone does not know that there is a difference betweem a "roma" and a large "round tomato"
so obviously the truth is that all store bought tomatoes are off limits until they find the culprit? the story is the same, scare the public without having all the facts or any facts at all.

[alphaa10-2009]

Unfortunately, most of these "common sense" procedures are probably already in use. What cook does not wash tomatoes before use in a salad?

The widespread salmonella infection suggests the salmonella is not easily removed by washing. The CBS article is not informative, in this respect, and needs further work.

CBS should contact the AP, its principal news feed, and find a reporter who can clarify this point-- can salmonella penetrate a tomato which is unbruised, and whose skin is unbroken?

I contacted CDC on this point, and was told there is no information on whether intact vegetables which have been washed can harbor salmonella in the vegetable tissues. The CDC rep apologized, and promised to email me if this information can be found-- or to refer my query to another specialist who should be able to answer my concern.

I am waiting, and the answer will be posted when received. Meanwhile, I suggested to the CDC they make a priority effort to clarify this point, send an update to all the news agencies.

[gkeawe]

I wonder if these are genetically altered tomatoes?

[nothappyatall]

Unfortunately, most of these "common sense" procedures are probably already in use. What cook does not wash tomatoes before use in a salad?"

The same ones who as kids were saved by child-proof caps and all the rest to protect them from their own stupidity- like the kid who ate 30 magnets and steel balls thinking they were CANDY- THESE are the ones who grow up and do things like cook without washing produce, and probably their hands either.

[blackwater66-2009]

Welcome to our 3rd World Country that we now have handed to us ! All our produce comes from 3rd world countries and none are inspected, we leave that up to the company that provides them to us, they are on the honor system to police themselves. The fox watching the hen house per say. Our farms are no longer producing food for us, its cheaper to get them from 3rd world countries, welcome to NAFTA folks !!

[lewiston14]

I know what a plum tomato looks like as well as a cherry tomato but are not most tomatoes red and round. This time of year tomatoes are shipped in from who knows where. This story was a big help. Not

[smiley676]

Salmonella is generally not removed by washing tomatoes. If the veggies you bought have salmonella and you don''t cook them (which most don''t during the summer), you are likely to get salmonella.

We need some serious oversight on where these veggies are being grown.

[spadeisspade]

The fact that everyone is freaking out about this outbreak shows plainly how ignorant people are to what exactly causes food born illnesses. When you hire workers that defecate in the fields because they aren''t given breaks and fertilize the plants with cow manure there WILL be bacteria on the food no matter how much oversight, inspections, etc. we impose or have. Consumers take on the risk, sometimes people get sick.

[rf35]

My wife and I had some raw tomatoes sliced on burgers I grilled this weekend. She now has symptoms of salmonella infection. Add another to the New Mexico tally. At least this article explains why she has been sick since Tuesday morning.

[ofbyfor1]

Grow your own.

[lewiston14]

rf35 where are you located near the problem area?
Hope she feels better soon! Lew

[lewiston14]

Growing our own is a good idea if we had more then a 3 month growing season. In 5 months it will be snowing again. Tomatoes dont like cold