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

US Food and Drug Administration ^

[bimbo]

Most likely source would be Mexico or Central America.

I believe the Tomato Salmonella, like the Spinach Salmonella and other outbreaks, are terrorist tactics, plain and simple. Of course, the powers-that-be will never admit that. They want you to believe the terrorists are only interested in flying planes into buildings.

[cartoonistx]

[Mamzelle]

How are these cases of poisoning coming about? Do restaurants figure prominently? How about unblemished tomatoes that you wash at home?

I use canned diced tomatoes for all my cooking, and fresh for salads and sandwiches. Canned tomatoes are surprisingly good and flavorful.

[topher]

The first reported death was a person (who had cancer) that ate Pico de Gallo at a Mexican restaurant in Texas.

Mexican tomatoes, IMHO, would be the most likely suspect.

Unfortunately, this is a billion dollar industry for Florida, and that state has not been cleared yet...

[Mamzelle]

Interesting--I had a case of poisoning (not serious, but very uncomfortable) after eating some Mexican food at a Mexican chain restaurant with pico de gallo a few months ago. Hit me before I even left the place, and was very ill by the time I got home.

Considering that salad is one of the few ways to get fresh and low-calorie food at a restaurant, it puts quite a restraint on eating out.

[Mamzelle]

I hope Florida is cleared--I hate for any American farming industry to take a hit.

Maybe they could can some of those 'maters--processing kills germs?

[Nachoman]

Home grown tomatoes rock!

[gardengirl]

There’s a huge Farmer’s market in Raleigh—3 hours away. They never really caught on here until recently, I guess cause everyone used to have a patch of garden at least. The one we have now does more flowers than anything.

[gardengirl]

We ate the first ripe tomato out of our bucket in the green house last week. YUMMY!
Pulled the last of the beets yest and I’m trying to put them up now. Got green beans just about ready to pick, and I need to dig taters. It was 102 in the shade today, yesterday’s heat index was 110. I’m waiting for it to cool off. Waiting.... Waiting.... Crickets chirping... :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

102 degrees for a few days would dry us all out nicely up here! :)

[MARTIAL MONK]

The incubation period – the time between ingestion of Salmonella bacteria and the onset of illness – varies from six to 72 hours

[FormerLib]

Migrant workers pooping in the fields again?

[o_zarkman44]

Once again our government is failing on delivering on the promises to inspect, intercept, and otherwise protect American citizens.

FEMA, immigration, USDA food inspections, Drug safety, airline safety inspections, and general law enforcement is all generally a failing grade..

When will we get tired of a government, incapable or unwilling to deliver on it’s promises it has assumed responsibility for??

[mewzilla]

Update....

New York State Tomatoes Contain Salmonella