Salmonellosis Outbreak in Certain Types of Tomatoes Updated: June 9, 2008

US Food and Drug Administration ^

[topher]

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Salmonellosis Outbreak in Certain Types of Tomatoes
Updated: June 9, 2008

Topics on this Page

• Introduction
• Update on the Outbreak
• News Updates
• Advice for Retailers, Restaurateurs and Food Service Operators

• Consumer Health Information
• What Is FDA Doing?
• Information About Salmonella
• How Do I Report a Tomato Complaint?

Introduction

The Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers nationwide that a salmonellosis outbreak appears to be linked to consumption of certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing raw red tomatoes. The bacteria causing the illnesses are Salmonella serotype Saintpaul, an uncommon type of Salmonella.

The specific type and source of tomatoes are under investigation. However, preliminary data suggest that raw red plum, raw red Roma, or raw round red tomatoes are the cause. At this time, consumers should limit their tomato consumption to tomatoes that have not been implicated in the outbreak. These include cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and tomatoes grown at home.

Red Plum/Red Roma tomatoes implicated in outbreak	Round red tomato implicated in outbreak

Update on the Outbreak

June 9, 2008: The Food and Drug Administration has expanded its warning to consumers nationwide that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw, red tomatoes.

At this time, FDA is advising consumers to limit their consumption of tomatoes to the following types of tomatoes. The following types of tomatoes listed below are NOT likely to be the source of this outbreak.

• cherry tomatoes

• grape tomatoes
• tomatoes sold with the vine still attached
• tomatoes grown at home

Also, FDA recommends consuming raw red plum, raw red Roma, or raw red round tomatoes only if grown and harvested from the following areas that HAVE NOT BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTBREAK:

Alabama
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Hawaii

Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
Mississippi
New York

Nebraska
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee

Texas
West Virginia

Belgium
Canada
Dominican Republic
Guatemala

Israel
Netherlands
Puerto Rico

Consumers who are unsure of where the tomatoes are from that they  have in their home are encouraged to contact the store or place of  purchase for that information.

Consumers should also be aware that raw tomatoes are often used in  the preparation of fresh salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo, are  part of fillings for tortillas, and are used in other dishes.

Restaurants, grocery stores, and food service operators have been advised by the FDA not to offer for sale or service raw red plum, Roma, or red tomatoes and products made from these types of tomatoes unless they are from one of the areas listed above.

Since mid April, there have been 145 reported cases of salmonellosis  nationwide caused by Salmonella Saintpaul, an uncommon form of  Salmonella.  At least 23 hospitalizations have been reported.

News Updates

• FDA Warns Consumers Nationwide Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes (June 7, 2008)
• FDA Warns Consumers in New Mexico and Texas Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes (June 3, 2008)

Advice for Retailers, Restaurateurs and Food Service Operators

Frequently Asked Questions

FDA traceback review, in addition to production and distribution pattern information, has indicated that tomatoes from the following sources are not associated with the outbreak:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• California

• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota

• Mississippi
• New York
• Nebraska
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania

• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• West Virginia
• Belgium
• Canada

• Dominican Republic
• Guatemala
• Israel
• Netherlands
• Puerto Rico

FDA recommends that retailers, restaurateurs, and food service operators offer only fresh and fresh cut red Roma, red plum, and round red tomatoes and food products made from these tomatoes for sale or service from the sources listed above.

FDA further recommends that retailers, restaurateurs, and food service operators continue to offer cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, from any source.

Consumer Health Information

• Warning on Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes
• Frequently Asked Questions

• How the FDA Works to Keep Produce Safe
• Safe Handling of Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juices

What is FDA Doing?

• Tomato Safety Initiative

• Food Protection Plan

Information About Salmonella

• Investigation of Outbreak of Infections Caused by Salmonella Saintpaul (CDC)

• General Information: Salmonella (CDC)
• Questions & Answers: Salmonella (CDC)

How Do I Report a Tomato Complaint?

• Please contact your Consumer Complaint Coordinator

 

Related Links

• Vegetables and Melons: Tomatoes (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

Subscribe to FDA Recalls

• Recalls & Alerts [what is rss?]
• Subscribe to Recalls Email List

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FDA Website Management Staff

[topher]

Has list of places currently where tomatoes are okay...

You can always ask your grocery store...

[topher]

One place missing is Florida

However, Arizona is missing as well and other Western states are missing (Oregon, New Mexico, and others).

Most likely source would be Mexico or Central America.

There have been 145 reported Salmonella cases in US since mid-April...

[cookcounty]

The tomatoes in question are from m-e-x-i-c-o, but we didn’t want to say so and have La Raza not like us.

[o_zarkman44]

So where did the bad ones come from? China? Mexico?

This has a 3rd world type of ring.

[neodad]

In Before Terrorism Ruled Out

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“You can always ask your grocery store...”

Because they’re really good about not re-grinding old meat into disease-laced hamburger? *SMIRK*

I never buy fresh tomatoes unless from a local farm stand; I grow most of my own. When it’s October and there are few tomatoes to be found in the garden, I tell Husband and the kids, “Last Call For Tomatoes!” and it’s a mad dash to get the last few because they know it’ll be a YEAR before they get another fresh one.

They’ve been known to nurse a green tomato into ripening on the windowsill well into December, LOL! :)

[topher]

Most of the recent cases of Salmonella were in Texas and New Mexico, so I would suspect Mexico.

But a few months ago, cantaloupe from Honduras had Salmonella.

At that time, I think Del Monte was providing retailers with Cantaloupes from Guatamala, for example.

Also, there have been cases of Salmonella with Green Onions in the past 6 months from Mexico.

[Graybeard58]

They didn’t really need to tell me that my home grown tomatoes were safe to eat. I ate 2 of them today.

[DB]

Notice they don’t say where the sources of these bad tomatoes are from, only the “good” sources.

I’d bet the list is short on the bad side, but not politically correct to print...

Some obvious missing sources are China and Mexico.

[topher]

They didn’t really need to tell me that my home grown tomatoes were safe to eat. I ate 2 of them today.

But... but... but... They are the government... They have to tell you EVERYTHING... [/sarcasm off]

HEADLINES tomorrow:

OBAMA declares Salmonella in tomatoes is Bush's Fault

[HereInTheHeartland]

Something like illustrates how safe our food supply is if you stop and think about it.
Outbreaks like this probably happened all the time in the past, but people didn’t know it or were just immune.

In today’s ultra sterile world and rapid information flow; an outbreak this is communicated quickly and affects immune systems that are not exposed to a lot.

This outbreak will be traced back to the source, and someone (or company) will be out of business and new regulations probably put in place.

[topher]

They found the Salmonella back in March (I think) in cantaloupes from Honduras very quickly...

I think the problem with tomatoes are the large number of sources to check...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

P.S. This is where I go into my usual rant about, “knowing where your food comes from...”

We’ve been doing a “local food” challenge on my site and it’s been amazing how well one can eat with a diet based on what is grown locally within your own state.

I’m a little spoiled, though. Wisconsin seemingly has it all! Awesome baked goods, any Dairy product you’d want, homemade sausages, beef and pork right off the hoof, apples, carrots, onions and ‘taters. You can make jam from wild grapes, and other small fruits you can grow at home such a Currant, Gooseberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, etc. (Small fruits make wonderful wines as well!)

Venison, fish and turkey for the time it takes you to load a shotgun, etc. :)

Check out what’s growing in your own state. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. You don’t need to eat no stinkin’ imported foods! (Except for Olive Oil, maybe.) :)

[lonestar]

My friends have more tomatoes than they can pick...I got a dozen more today. They are delicious and home grown!

[topher]

This article from Yahoo is outdated:

McDonald's, others pull tomatoes over salmonella By CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

That news article (which is one hour old) only has:

Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands and Puerto Rico.

That was the list from this morning...

The LAXY, Politically Correct AP reporters at work...

[BigFinn]

I haven't bought those 'generic' tomatoes for a while now. They never did taste very good. For a while now, If they don't have a sticker on them that says grown in the US, I don't buy them. You pay a bit more but it beats getting sick. But the the backyard garden is the best bet and a lot of fun, I might add.

That goes for all those other grocery store veggies... I think most of them are imported too. Good to ask your produce person where they were grown. Local is good. Support our own growers.

Funny why hasn't the media hasn't mentioned where they were grown? Hmmm?

[concentric circles]

McDonald's, others pull tomatoes over salmonella

"...California Tomato Farmers President Ed Beckman said that at this time of year almost all tomatoes sold in the United States come from either Mexico or Florida."

[ThomasThomas]

In Before Terrorism Ruled Out

Don't be so hasty!

[Lijahsbubbe]

Something like illustrates how safe our food supply is if you stop and think about it. Outbreaks like this probably happened all the time in the past, but people didn’t know it or were just immune.

I always think the opposite. I think things were more localized in the past.In this age of rapid distribution food goes farther faster. Of course I could be wrong. ;)

[cherry]

is this disease IN the tomatoe?...or on the outside......I’ll be danged if I ‘m going to give up on tomatoes just because of some scare....tomatoes are my favorite vegetable....