Tomato Turmoil

6/14/08 Posted in News  |  0 Comments

Two-hundred and twenty-eight people have now become sick due to the continuing salmonella-contaminated tomato outbreak. The number of states with sick individuals has risen to 22, and 25 people have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, U.S. health officials said.

Congressional investigators are now saying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has failed to meet its goals of keeping the nations food supply safe. The plan that the administration is supposed to follow states that they establish a risk-based inspection of food plants.

While the number of salmonella cases continues to rise the Government Accountability Office has reported that they are zeroing in on a source for the outbreak. An associate from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the key is finding specifically where the tomatoes came from.

Currently parts of Florida are still under investigation.

A group of about 20 people in New Mexico first reported getting infected by salmonella with links to tomatoes in May. It was Tuesday that the warning about the contaminated tomatoes was expanded to include every state in the U.S.

The type of salmonella involved, Salmonella Saintpaul, is fairly rare and only accounts for about 400 cases annually in the U.S.

The types of tomatoes that should be avoided at this time are raw, red plum tomatoes, raw, red Roma tomatoes and raw, round red tomatoes. Homegrown tomatoes, grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and tomatoes purchased with the vine still attached seem to be safe. But officials have suggested washing any type of tomato carefully before eating.

Consumers should also be cautious of any processed foods containing tomatoes. Some cases have shown links to salsa consumed in restaurants.