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The FDA has recently updated its warning concerning the Salmonella serotype Saintpaul outbreak. According to the FDA website, other evidence provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that not only tomatoes, but also raw jalapeno and serrano peppers may be connected to illnesses in the recent outbreaks. The warning has been extended for certain high-risk populations such as elderly, infants, and those with weakened immune systems, to avoid consuming raw jalapeno and raw serrano peppers until further notice. To keep updated on the outbreak, and for further updates on the pepper warning, visit the FDA's website, www.fda.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What kind of illness should I be aware of?
Fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are often symptoms associated with a Salmonella contamination. These symptoms usually occur 12 to 72 hours after infection and could last anywhere from 4 to 7 days. Although very rare, the bacterium can also enter the bloodstream and cause a more serious illness.
What kinds of raw tomatoes should be avoided during this outbreak?
Consumers should avoid handling or eating raw red plum, Roma, and round tomatoes and foods containing them, unless they are from regions that have been ruled out as the sources of contamination.
What kinds of raw tomatoes should consumers continue to buy during this outbreak?
Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes still on the vine have not been linked to
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any of the outbreaks. Also, consumers may continue to buy any type of tomato from sources that have not been linked to the outbreak. Homegrown tomatoes are also not linked to this outbreak.
How can consumers tell where a tomato was grown, harvested, or packed?
Consumers are advised to ask retailers where their source is for the tomatoes in question. If in doubt about the source of any plum, Roma, or round tomato, consumers should discard them.
Will washing, peeling, or cooking tomatoes implicated in this outbreak make them safe to eat?
Peeling, washing, or cooking any contaminated tomato or a tomato that has not been ruled out as a source of contamination is not advised. This will not make the tomato safe to eat, and could potentially spread the bacterium to anything the handler touches, for example, cooking utensils, cutting boards, and other foods. Consumers are advised to throw these tomatoes out.
Are canned tomatoes safe?
Consumers may continue to buy and eat any type of canned or processed tomato product as long as the product was processed by a commercial food-processing facility. Some examples are canned tomatoes, tomato juice, spaghetti sauce, or ketchup found in grocery stores.
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