CDC: Tomatoes eyed in salmonella cases in 9 states

[flashl]

Source: Yahoo

ATLANTA - An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has now been reported in nine states, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.

Lab tests have confirmed 40 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.

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.

Another 30 people have become sick with the same Salmonella Saintpaul 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 40 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.

Yahoo

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080604/ap_on_he_me/med_salmonella_tomatoes;_ylt=Ao30rKFXdV.KPzNpaTzqoJas0NUE

[liberalmike27]

1. That's Terrible

But what has happened to tomatoes. They used to be firm, and tasty, but now it seems like the majority of them look great on the outside, but when you cut into them, they are mushy. I hate it, as tomotoes are one of my favorite foods.

[Tesha]

2. Luckily, tomatoes can be grown at home, even in small containers. (NT)

[FireFly70]

3. GM Tomatoes

The reason your tomato doesn't taste right is because it is probably genetically modified, or picked green and couldn't ripen correctly or both. Grow your own from organic seed, or buy from your local farmer's market. It's the only way to get "real tomatoes" Also if you are concerned, cook the tomatoes, I know it's not fresh, but cooking them will kill the salmonella.

[slackmaster]

4. Another good reason to grow your own tomatoes

I stopped watering what was left of my once lush back "lawn" last summer. This spring I have dug out about 100 square feet of former sod. Now I have monster tomato plants growing on a fraction of what I used to use overwatering the grass.

[Mugsy]

5. I GUARANTEE the tomatoes will be "organic".

EVERY time there is a food-born outbreak like this, be it lettuce or corn... like we saw last year... and now tomatoes, I GUARANTEE the outbreak will be traced back to "organically" grown tomatoes. You don't contract salmonella from plant food. You contact it from bio-matter, like using untreated animal dung as fertilizer.

People that buy "organic" produce... often at three times the price... claiming it to be "healthier" astound me.

[uppityperson]

6. It can be contaminated in other ways also

If hand picked or hand handled, from the water sprayed on them, 2 ways I could quickly come up with.

[Duer 157099]

7. Wasn't that the case with the lettuce a couple years ago?

Or maybe it was spinach - but wasn't it traced back to their water supply somehow? :shrug:

[uppityperson]

9. Yes. And what was that thing yrs back, grocery store mister issue

The misting spray in a grocery store was spraying bad stuff. I think that poster is uninformed.

[blayne]

10. It was spinach less than a year ago, and it wasn't organic.

It was regular spinach from California, and the salmonella was from cows in fields near the spinach fields. I can't remember how the cross contamination happened, but I remember seeing it on tv. I think it was smaller varmints crossing between the 2 fields or something.

[depakid]

8. You have no idea what you're talking about

In point of fact, in so called "conventional" industrial production, there are multiple points where contamination can be introduced and spread, and due to the scale and cost cutting- much large amounts of foodstuffs tend to be involved.

That's part of what makes tracing the pathogen back to the source so difficult.

For an example of how this is done, have a look at the FDA's report on the 2006 spinach ecoli outbreak:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01593.html

[ironrooster]

14. Mugsy

I'll BET you $50,00 they're NOT organic.

[midnight]

11. Remember when it was spinach?

Deadly E. coli outbreak traced to bagged spinach, sickens dozens
By Andrew Bridges, Associated Press Writer | September 15, 2006

WASHINGTON --WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal health officials worked Friday to find the source of a multistate E. coli outbreak and warned consumers that even washing the suspect spinach won't kill the sometimes-deadly bacteria

[Manifestor_of_Light]

12. I'm allergic to tomatoes, so I have no interest in this.

[NashVegas]

13. How Is It They Can't Figure Out Where These Tasteless Agribusiness Tomatoes Come From?

Hmmm?