Raw Tomato Salmonella Warning
Tuesday June 10, 2008
Yesterday, the United States FDA confirmed that a U.S. nationwide "salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw, red tomatoes". Previously, the alert had been confined to certain states. The FDA advises that people NOT eat the following types of tomatoes, or products, such as fresh (uncooked) salsa made with these tomatoes:
- Round Red Tomatoes
- Roma Tomatoes
- Plum Tomatoes
For photos of these tomatoes, see the FDA Website.
The following types of tomatoes are consdered SAFE:
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Grape Tomatoes
- Tomatoes with the vine attached
- Home-grown tomatoes
- Tomatoes grown in certain areas (scroll half-way down page)
Severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea and vomiting within 12 to 72 hours of exposure. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. If you believe you could have salmonella, please see a physician. This is a reportable illness which is being tracked.
More About Salmonella from Dr. Vince Ianelli
More About the Outbreak from the CDC
Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Comments
I cannot take this seriously. If you scare people off tomatoes, what is the world ocming to? It’s possible someone picked tomatoes without washing their hands. Maybe even a couple of people… But if you scare people off tomatoes now, then in ten years time, cancer rates will rise significantly.
The Centers for Disease Control do not take things like this lightly and would not issue warnings unless they were based on hard facts. Remember the spinach issue? Many fell ill to the effects of e. coli which was ultimately traced down to its cause, and today the vegetable is back on the dinner table due to the efforts of the CDC and other government departments concerned for the welfare of our populace. Only three types of tomatoes were identified as being problems and there are other types of tomatoes avaiable for our diet until the offenders are cleared. Additionally, there are other vegetables with anti-oxidant properties that will “keep the cancer rate from rising in the next 10 years”.
Lets not forget that the FDA is one of the most corrupt organizations in the US and they pander to whoever has the most green, which is usually the multi-national corporations. Aside from the toxic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and the ‘fertilizers’ used on the crops, saying tomatoes are unsafe is really stupid. Let’s also not forget that the FDA refuses to fully endorse organic food/produce which is the safest, most wholesome food there is. They never say Tyson foods or MonSanto is causing harm to people and the environment, but that
Lets not forget that the FDA is one of the most corrupt organizations in the US and they pander to whoever has the most green, which is always the multi-national corporations. Aside from the toxic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and the ‘fertilizers’ used on the crops, saying tomatoes are unsafe is really stupid. Let’s also not forget that the FDA refuses to fully (or even partially if they cared to admit it) endorse organic & free range food/produce which is the safest, most wholesome food there is. They never say Tyson foods or MonSanto is causing harm to people and the environment, but that is exactly what these companies and others like them do - they commit crimes and the FDA closes their eyes. Never trust an org that avoids an issue or says ‘no comment’ or ‘this is under investigation’ which is what the FDA says when they’re in a tight spot when they know they’re in the wrong. Their under investigation last more than a decade and usually dies off because the people pushing for the investigation have died from old age or frustration. Seriously guys, forget the FDA, they’re no help to anyone *_*
Comment continued ^_^
is exactly what these companies and others like them do - they commit crimes and the FDA closes their eyes. Never trust an org that avoids an issue or says ‘no comment’ or ‘this is under investigation’ which is what the FDA says when they’re in a tight spot when they know they’re in the wrong. Their under investigation last more than a decade and usually dies off because the people pushing for the investigation have died from old age or frustration. Seriously guys, forget the FDA, they’re no help to anyone *_*
These implicated tomato types are discreet–why would they all get bad at once?
Does Salmonella live inside the tomato–in other words, can you wash it off or is it inside the tomato? I can’t believe this is going on when tomatoes are coming into season.
Okay, so we can’t eat certain tomatoes. The article does not tell us about cooking these certain tomatoes. Is that safe? What if we just thoroughly wash them with soap and water; will that be enough? I wish the article would explain a little more than: don’t eat these!
Take a look at the FDA site in the link - some states have been ruled out as sources of the outbreak. Of course, tomatoes from your back yard are probably okay as well.
IT’S A LOAD OF BULL!IVE BEEN TAKING TOMATOE JUICE (RAW)FOR YEARS, I’ve never had any symptons being mentioned in the ” TALL TALE”
How does salmonella get on tomatoes?
Amazingly, a few months ago I stopped eating
tomatoes except for cherry tomatoes and those
grown on the vine. A few years ago I became
ill after eating a cheese quesadia. Had
to have an appendectomy. We need to trust our
instincts!
To address a few things:
- The microbe in this case (as in the fairly recent spinach incident) is thought to live inside the tomato, so washing won’t kill the salmonella, but cooking should, although the CDC is recommending not eating them at all.
- The reason several species of tomato are named is that they have narrowed down the source to those tomatoes, but they aren’t yet sure.
- The FDA is never going to choose me as their defender. They have enormous problems. But to be fair, one of their problems is decreasing amounts of funding in the recent past, while the food supply issues are arguably growing ever larger with globalization of the food supply. They are nowhere near well-enough-funded to be a policing organization.
I do agree that the risk from any one tomato appears to be low. Nevertheless, when the CDC and FDA are both issuing warnings about food my readers consume, I feel it is only responsible to report it.
wow. look, the problem with the tomatoes is that they grew near a place with contaminated water run-off, or during handling they were contaminated. it has nothing to do with tomatoes . it could be anything. it just happens to be tomatoes in this case. this is why you didn’t get sick before, etc. just grow your own and eat those. or wait until they figure out why these were contaminated and then it is all fixed. no big deal. no rise in cancer…good lord.
and yes cooking them will kill the bacteria, and no, washing them with soap and water will not. it is a highly resilient bacteria.