Salmonella outbreak in Tomatoes!

[Raph's Girl]

Nooo!!!! Not Tomatoes!!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4149713.shtml

An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has now been reported in nine states, U.S health officials said Tuesday.

Lab tests have confirmed 40 illnesses in Texas and New Mexico as the same type of salmonella, right down to the genetic fingerprint. An investigation by Texas and New Mexico health authorities and the Indian Health Service tied those cases to uncooked, raw, large tomatoes.

At least 17 people in Texas and New Mexico have been hospitalized. None have died, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another 30 people have become sick with the same Salmonella Saintpaul infection in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Illinois and Indiana. CDC investigators are looking into whether tomatoes were culprits there, too.

In Texas and New Mexico, raw large tomatoes _ including Roma and red round tomatoes _ were found to be a common factor in the 40 illnesses. But no farm, distributor or grocery chain has been identified as the main source, said Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC epidemiologist working on the investigation.

"The specific type and source of tomatoes is under investigation," she said.

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. The bacteria are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

Most infected people suffer fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps starting 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness tends to last four to seven days.

Many people recover without treatment. However, severe infection and even death is possible. Infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk for severe infections.

In Texas and New Mexico, the patients ranged in age from ages 3 to 82. Of the 40, 38 were interviewed. Most said they ate raw tomatoes from either stores or restaurants before becoming ill between April 23 and May 27.

Another 17 cases are under investigation in New Mexico, CDC officials said.

[Cure]

As long as it's not beef, bacon, Starburst, sugary drinks, or anything else that's generally bad for you but tastes awesome.

[Aelia]

Hey now, I like tomatoes! They're great for healthy finger food and are awesome on burgers, salads, e.t.c.

My chili bacon cheese burger is now incomplete. ;__;

[Buslady]

another reason to grow your own vegetation

[Aelia]

I wish I could grow my own veggies and fruits, but it's kinda difficult to do that because I live near the beach and thus 90% of the dirt is sand.

[Raphael_]

Incredible. Now the government is GMing tomatoes that weigh 120lbs that you can't eat because they're full of ****.

[Raph's Girl]

Well... looks like that Salmonella outbreak in Tomatoes has reached good ole Washington State...7 people have gotten sick here....course I find this out AFTER eating a tomato....

[Drtooth]

... uh... this doesn't affect Massachusettes, does it? I just sort of kinda ate a tomato today forgetting about this. It was only one slice. Should I be all Wade Duck about it, or should I let it just pass? Pun DEFINATELY intended.

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

... uh... this doesn't affect Massachusettes, does it? I just sort of kinda ate a tomato today forgetting about this. It was only one slice. Should I be all Wade Duck about it, or should I let it just pass? Pun DEFINATELY intended.

So far it's effected: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, and Washington State. There's no word on Massachusettes being effected.

[GK Punk]

Originally Posted by Raph's Girl

Well... looks like that Salmonella outbreak in Tomatoes has reached good ole Washington State...7 people have gotten sick here....course I find this out AFTER eating a tomato....

Im in California, but I just bought a ton of Tomatos the day you posted this, and Ive been too paranoid to eat them

[Machias Banshee]

AS long as you cook the tomatoes completely, they're harmless. Yeah, hot tomatoes on a salad sounds icky, but its better than getting sick....

[Jester]

I thought about telling our produce manager, who is a few bricks shy of a load, that he should pull all of our tomatoes because of this just to be a jerk, now I wonder if we may have too.

[GK Punk]

Originally Posted by Machias Banshee

AS long as you cook the tomatoes completely, they're harmless. Yeah, hot tomatoes on a salad sounds icky, but its better than getting sick....

I live in California, we dont know HOW to cook Tomatoes! I'll probably just end p eating them as there's yet to be any cases of this out here.

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by GK

I live in California, we dont know HOW to cook Tomatoes! I'll probably just end p eating them as there's yet to be any cases of this out here.

Um... aaaactually...

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9506660?source=rss

California officials have confirmed that a San Francisco Bay area resident has a type of Salmonella that has sickened 57 people in New Mexico and Texas and been linked to consumption of tomatoes.

The Department of Public Health said Friday that it is working with local officials to determine if the Contra Costa County resident's illness stemmed from eating tomatoes in California or in another part of the country.

The department also said it is working with Oregon officials to determine if an Oregon resident confirmed to have the strain of the illness known as Salmonella St. Paul ate tomatoes while in Southern California.

Department officials said the Food and Drug Administration has no indication that tomatoes grown in California caused the outbreak.

There's also 2 cases in Virginia

[Machias Banshee]

Alas, poor Kittie, we knew him well..!

*plays Taps*

Its really scary, within the past couple years, the food disasters have been enough to make people really paranoid about their food. Maybe it Will get people to grow their own food more..

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by Machias Banshee

Maybe it Will get people to grow their own food more..

Im currently waiting for the tomato plant I baught on Mother's day to bear fruit. ATM I've got LOTS of strawberries growin. Numm!

I love going to my grandparents place every year...they grow all their veggies.

[iris]

Woohoo! More tomatoes for me! Though... I buy them from the farmer's market, which is entirely different because it doesn't go through the big ol' communal commercial washers that the other tomatoes go through.

I think chances are actually pretty low that you are going to get sick from one of these tomatoes. I'd only really be concerned about babies or weak people or immunocompromised people.

[Machias Banshee]

Coolies... We've got some bean plants and a few fruit trees growing like Crazy here, and we should be getting more salad greens from the neighbor too. I personally can't wait for the raspberries and blackberries to come into season.

In the meantime, we'll eat our bacteria-laden salad greens with our lead-based Chinese salad dressing and hope to see another day...[/tongue-in-cheek]

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by iris

I'd only really be concerned about babies or weak people or immunocompromised people.

Yeah.. Im one of those immunocompromised people. So Im avoiding tomatoes for a while...*sighs* and I love tomatoes

[Roseangelo]

Just so long as all the pizza is safe.