Salmonella Illness Toll Tops 1,000; Officials Eye Jalapeno Peppers

Wall Street Journal ^ | July 9, 2008 | JANE ZHANG

[Pinkbell]

WASHINGTON -- More than 1,000 people have become sick in the salmonella outbreak originally blamed on tomatoes, and federal health officials now say jalapeno peppers appear more likely to be at fault, at least in three large clusters of illnesses.

The outbreak has caused the death of a Texas man in his 80s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. The agency said the outbreak may also have contributed to the death of another Texas man, who had cancer.

As of Tuesday, 1,017 people -- from 41 states, the District of Columbia and Canada -- had become sick from the rare salmonella strain dubbed Saintpaul, the CDC said. The first patient became sick on April 10 and the last, on June 26. The latest figure is an increase from the 943 cases that were reported as of July 3.

[CindyDawg]

I was wondering about run off water they might use to clean the birds.

[beaversmom]

I was going around with cold water in a cup. I tried to lay down and it was miserable so I soaked them in a bucket in the bed and ended up getting water all over the bed. My left hand was the worst. I literally felt like I had been burned. I’m going to make some more cabbage salsa but I’ll definitely put on gloves. I had it happen once before so you think I would have learned. That was when I tried to make jalapeno poppers from sratch (which have never really turned out for me). I guess I thought that just cutting up two wouldn’t cause the same reaction as cutting up a bunch but I learned my lesson.

[beaversmom]

P.S. I’d hate to work in Jalapeno factory. They must have to wear haz mat suits.

[brytlea]

Ditto...

[brytlea]

LOL yes, it’s misery! My husband once put his contacts in after touching them—he had washed his hands but I guess he didn’t get all of the oil of. OOOO man that hurt (at least he says it did and I believe him!)
susie

[pgkdan]

Out of a population of 300 million people 200 got sick and that was enough to destroy the harvests of tomatoe growers all over Florida who watched their crops rot. Now it's up to 1000 and it turns out it may have had nothing to do with tomatoes after all.

This kind of hype and fear mongering makes me sick. How many people get salmonella every day from eating friedd chicken? What's it cause? A day or two of diarhea? Sheesh! We're becoming the big babies the nanny state wants us to be!

[beaversmom]

Ah gee, in your eyes would be the worst. I imagine getting hit with pepper spray must be awful too. I wonder how long the spray takes to wear off?

[beaversmom]

It makes me sick to think about all the tomatoes that were wasted and all the money lost. I totally agree with you.

Stuff like this always reminds me of the video by Tracey Ullman giving Americans their “daily dose of fear”:

Tracey Ullman as Campbell Brown Compilation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_4eTbfp74o

[beaversmom]

“Horror, terror, horror terror, nightmare, horror fear!” LOL :)

[CindyDawg]

It's bigger than just a Florida problem. This could affect all of our produce economy.The people that track this stuff are really smart people. By this time they normally would have narrowed the contamination to a region...city...block...restaurant...employee. It bothers me that they can't seem to get a handle on this. First it was spinach...then tomatoes...then salsa...and now peppers. Do they know and just aren't telling or can they not find the source?

[nomorelurker]

Good post. It is possible that someone with a serious medical condition could be much more affected but that person should be taking more care on their own. It is doubtful anyone will die today from salmonella caused by tomatoes (or jalapenos, etc.). It is certain that someone will be killed in a car accident today. We should close the roads before we stop eating tomatoes.

[brytlea]

Long enough for you to kick the perp you know where and run like heck! ;)
Actually, I have no idea, but I bet it seems like a LONG time!

susie

[andy58-in-nh]

My wife and I have been puzzling over the same question for a couple of weeks now. We're not ready (quite) to jump on the Conspiracy Bandwagon, but why is it taking the FDA so long to determine the source of this outbreak when they have agricultural specialists who can tell you not only which town a piece of fruit came from, but which grove and (in some cases) even which tree?

[antiunion person]

Did you realize there is a certain amount of salmonella in most of our foods?? Eating the right amounts won't kill you, unless you immune system was weak to start with. I've don't a lot or reading on this when the salmonella ‘outbreak’ hit in San Juan Batista, California either last year or two years ago. I've learned more than I ever expected too and I am glad I did. Ignorance is one of the major problems with the American today. Most think if they don't think about it, it won't happen. WRONG!!!

[antiunion person]

Did you realize there is a certain amount of salmonella in most of our foods?? Eating the right amounts won't kill you, unless you immune system was weak to start with. I've don't a lot or reading on this when the salmonella ‘outbreak’ hit in San Juan Batista, California either last year or two years ago. I've learned more than I ever expected too and I am glad I did. Ignorance is one of the major problems with the American today. Most think if they don't think about it, it won't happen. WRONG!!!

[Irish Eyes]

The produce manager at our local Safeway told us that they are plowing under fields of tomatoes in Florida (no one will buy them). He also said that they are now looking at the green onions.

[brytlea]

Sure, and we have e coli in our gut. I’m not going to intentionally ingest *moderate* amounts of either. I’m sure I eat things every day that I wouldn’t want to, if I were aware of them.
And, so, what’s your point?

susie

[Pinkbell]

It’s good to know this. I never knew that about chopping jalapeno peppers. I’ve never had to chop them up. I’ll know in the future to where gloves. I have enough problems in the winter with my hands getting sore from getting chapped.

[Pinkbell]

where = wear

[Pinkbell]

It’s a shame that tomato crops have been ruined, especially now that they think the tomatoes likely have not been the problem. Crops have been ruined for nothing.