Tomatoes blamed for Salmonella outbreak
Categories: Health & safety, Eating & nutrition, In the news
Here is some better-late-than-never information: tomatoes have been making people sick since mid-April. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 145 cases of salmonella infections in 16 states have been traced to raw tomatoes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration believes that some large tomatoes, including Roma, round red and red plum are carrying Salmonella sereotype Saintpaul and should be avoided. However, smaller varieties such as cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and those sold still attached to their vines are considered safe. In addition, raw red plum, raw red Roma, or raw red round tomatoes grown and harvested in specific locations are thought to be safe as well. You can find a list of those locations here.
A person infected with Salmonella will usually develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12–72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts about 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment. However, severe infections are more likely in infants, the elderly and those with impaired immune systems. With a severe infection, the Salmonella can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and on to other body sites and could even cause death if not properly treated with antibiotics. Officials recommend consulting a health care provider if diarrhea lasts longer than two days for an adult, one day for a child younger than 4, or eight hours for an infant.
The FDA is also recommending that U.S. retail outlets, restaurants, and food service operators offer only those tomatoes deemed safe. But to be sure, you might want to think twice before dipping your chip in a bowl of fresh salsa at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
A person infected with Salmonella will usually develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12–72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts about 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment. However, severe infections are more likely in infants, the elderly and those with impaired immune systems. With a severe infection, the Salmonella can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and on to other body sites and could even cause death if not properly treated with antibiotics. Officials recommend consulting a health care provider if diarrhea lasts longer than two days for an adult, one day for a child younger than 4, or eight hours for an infant.
The FDA is also recommending that U.S. retail outlets, restaurants, and food service operators offer only those tomatoes deemed safe. But to be sure, you might want to think twice before dipping your chip in a bowl of fresh salsa at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jenn 6-09-2008 @ 9:20PM
Yep, here in North Texas, the sandwich places & such are pulling tomatoes (which really stinks, because what's a sub without lettuce & tomatoes?).
Yet another reason (as if we needed more) to be growing our own!
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vizdaq 12-05-2008 @ 1:45AM
Here's something to think about. How many workers at fast food places wash their hands after going to the bathroom? How many workers have you seen pick their noses or other parts of their bodies and then touch your food? Now go to youtube and look at videos of crops being picked. Sometimes you see portapotties. Sometimes you don't. But most of the time you don't see running water to watch your hands after going to the bathroom. For the life of me, I can't see why there are not more outbreaks.
Familly Travel Girl 6-09-2008 @ 10:54PM
Our local Jimmy John's pulled their tomatoes today, too! My husband and I think we got sick last week after eating off the "fresco" (fresh chopped tomatoes) menu at a local (Illinois) Taco Bell. Be safe! -- Family Travel Girl - www.familytravelgirl.com
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Brent 6-10-2008 @ 12:51AM
Most likely, the salmonella was planted on our crops by our nasty little illegal alien nemesis on the other side of the planet. They don't have any sanitary procedures, from oil to terrorism to nukes to society, etc.
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Martine 6-10-2008 @ 2:11PM
With Obama and his cohorts infecting Americas food we have to take all the precautions we can to ensure the safety of our families and friends. I want to feed my family with the best food possible, so YES, I will vote for John McCain. There is no other candidate!! Only McCain stands for and endorses our American food industry, our jobs and our lives and the security of the food we feed ourselves and our children.
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NS Young 6-15-2008 @ 7:25PM
Yeah John Mc Cain will keep us in the huge mess Bush has gotten us into only he will be able to speak in a better fashion to get more people to believe his Sh*t and I doubt he will care anymore about the people than what Bush does. With the prices going up on everything like they are, people will be lucky if they can afford the things they need to care for their families.
jim 6-13-2008 @ 2:40PM
what do you want to bet that the person who picked those tomatoes was an illegal alien that didn't use proper sanitary procedures after using the bathroom
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Jacknife 6-18-2008 @ 8:17PM
Sure, you're another one who gets on the internet and rants Bush was behind every single terorist act Obama's ever thought of, as well as 9/11. What I wonder is where the food you eat comes from. Do you have families and children to feed it to or your own mouth. Do you even grow your own? Have you even tried?
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