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Tue, Jun-10-08, 09:22
http://origin.sltrib.com/business/ci_9530300
Salmonella outbreak has eateries, markets in Utah pulling tomatoes
By Dawn House
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 06/09/2008 02:24:11 PM MDT
Updated: 1:59 PM- Some restaurants, fast-food chains and supermarkets in Utah and other states are pulling three types of tomatoes from store shelves and menus as the U.S. government continues to hunt for the source of a salmonella outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said consumers should avoid raw red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes, which have been tied to 145 infections since mid-April. One related illness has been reported in Utah, but the victim is thought have eaten tomatoes elsewhere, perhaps in New Mexico.
Consumers can continue to eat the smaller, cherry or grape tomatoes, or tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, as well as tomatoes grown at home.
On Sunday, Albertsons pulled tomatoes on the FDA list from shelves in Utah and several other states in the Intermountain West, as well as California, officials said. Smith's also has done so.
"This is a precaution," said Albertsons' spokeswoman Donna Eggers. "We're waiting for further information from the FDA."
In addition, McDonald's, Taco Bell and Chipotle Mexican Grill have stopped offering tomatoes.
Although the FDA has said tomatoes grown in many areas such as California are safe, it has not been able to pinpoint the source of the outbreak. The FDA said consumers should contact their local grocer if they are unsure where tomatoes they purchased were grown.
Infections also have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, the FDA said in a statement.
Consumer advisory:
Tomatoes varieties that include cherry, grape and those sold with the vine attached or grown at home are safe to eat. Canned whole or diced tomatoes can be used as an alternative. Do not eat raw red plumb, red Roma or round red tomatoes unless you know they were grown in areas that have been ruled to be safe Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20080609/salmonella-tomato-warning-expanded
Salmonella Tomato Warning Expanded
Salmonella Outbreak in Certain Raw, Red Tomatoes Sickens At Least 145 People in 16 States
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJune 9, 2008 -- The FDA has broadened its list of tomatoes to avoid because of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 145 people in 16 states since the middle of April.
The FDA and CDC first warned last week of dozens of people in nine states who had gotten sick after eating certain types of raw, red tomatoes.
Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Serious and potentially fatal cases are more likely in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weak immune systems.
No deaths have been reported in the salmonella tomato outbreak. However, 23 people have been hospitalized with Salmonella Saintpaul, the uncommon type of salmonella at the root of the outbreak.
Salmonella Saintpaul cases have been reported in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
FDA's Tomato Recommendations
Because of the salmonella outbreak, the FDA advises consumers not to eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes, or products containing those types of tomatoes, unless the tomatoes are from the following places, which have not been linked to the outbreak:
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Hawaii
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Belgium
Canada
Dominican Republic
Guatemala
Israel
Netherlands
Puerto Rico
Not sure where your tomatoes came from? The FDA suggests calling the store where you bought them for that information. The tomato warnings also apply to restaurants.
When outbreaks aren't underway, the FDA recommends washing whole, fresh produce before eating it. But during an outbreak, the stakes are too high. Washing tomatoes probably won't get rid of the contamination, so the FDA urges consumers to simply avoid eating the suspect tomatoes.
Not all tomatoes are on the FDA's warning list. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and home-grown tomatoes haven't been linked to the outbreak, according to the FDA.
Salmonella outbreak has eateries, markets in Utah pulling tomatoes
By Dawn House
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 06/09/2008 02:24:11 PM MDT
Updated: 1:59 PM- Some restaurants, fast-food chains and supermarkets in Utah and other states are pulling three types of tomatoes from store shelves and menus as the U.S. government continues to hunt for the source of a salmonella outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said consumers should avoid raw red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes, which have been tied to 145 infections since mid-April. One related illness has been reported in Utah, but the victim is thought have eaten tomatoes elsewhere, perhaps in New Mexico.
Consumers can continue to eat the smaller, cherry or grape tomatoes, or tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, as well as tomatoes grown at home.
On Sunday, Albertsons pulled tomatoes on the FDA list from shelves in Utah and several other states in the Intermountain West, as well as California, officials said. Smith's also has done so.
"This is a precaution," said Albertsons' spokeswoman Donna Eggers. "We're waiting for further information from the FDA."
In addition, McDonald's, Taco Bell and Chipotle Mexican Grill have stopped offering tomatoes.
Although the FDA has said tomatoes grown in many areas such as California are safe, it has not been able to pinpoint the source of the outbreak. The FDA said consumers should contact their local grocer if they are unsure where tomatoes they purchased were grown.
Infections also have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, the FDA said in a statement.
Consumer advisory:
Tomatoes varieties that include cherry, grape and those sold with the vine attached or grown at home are safe to eat. Canned whole or diced tomatoes can be used as an alternative. Do not eat raw red plumb, red Roma or round red tomatoes unless you know they were grown in areas that have been ruled to be safe Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20080609/salmonella-tomato-warning-expanded
Salmonella Tomato Warning Expanded
Salmonella Outbreak in Certain Raw, Red Tomatoes Sickens At Least 145 People in 16 States
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJune 9, 2008 -- The FDA has broadened its list of tomatoes to avoid because of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 145 people in 16 states since the middle of April.
The FDA and CDC first warned last week of dozens of people in nine states who had gotten sick after eating certain types of raw, red tomatoes.
Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Serious and potentially fatal cases are more likely in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weak immune systems.
No deaths have been reported in the salmonella tomato outbreak. However, 23 people have been hospitalized with Salmonella Saintpaul, the uncommon type of salmonella at the root of the outbreak.
Salmonella Saintpaul cases have been reported in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
FDA's Tomato Recommendations
Because of the salmonella outbreak, the FDA advises consumers not to eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes, or products containing those types of tomatoes, unless the tomatoes are from the following places, which have not been linked to the outbreak:
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Hawaii
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Belgium
Canada
Dominican Republic
Guatemala
Israel
Netherlands
Puerto Rico
Not sure where your tomatoes came from? The FDA suggests calling the store where you bought them for that information. The tomato warnings also apply to restaurants.
When outbreaks aren't underway, the FDA recommends washing whole, fresh produce before eating it. But during an outbreak, the stakes are too high. Washing tomatoes probably won't get rid of the contamination, so the FDA urges consumers to simply avoid eating the suspect tomatoes.
Not all tomatoes are on the FDA's warning list. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and home-grown tomatoes haven't been linked to the outbreak, according to the FDA.