Q&A: Salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes 6-09-08

What's new?

There is an ongoing Salmonella outbreak in 16 states that is associated with consumption of raw red tomatoes.  At least 150 cases of illness including at least 20 hospitalizations have been reported.   But no death resulted from the outbreak starting from Mid-April, 2008.

According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, as of June 7, the agency has received reports of 145 cases of Salmonella illness including 23 hospitalizations from 16 states including Arizona (12 persons), California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (1), Idaho (2), Illinois (17), Indiana (1), Kansas (3), New Mexico (39), Oklahoma (3), Oregon (2), Texas (56), Utah (1), Virginia (2), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (3).

Health officials have interviewed 73 people age 1 to 82 with 49 female who got sick after eating tomatoes and found their illnesses started between April 16 and May 27, 2008.

What types of tomatoes or products are involved in the outbreak?

The types of tomatoes involved include raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing these raw, red tomatoes from an unidentified source.

What types of tomatoes can consumers eat?  

The Food and Drug Administration said tomatoes from certain states and countries are safe to eat, including Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico.

Also, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, or tomatoes grown at home, regardless of their sources, are safe to eat.

Where did the tainted tomatoes come from?

Either the FDA or the CDC has not identified the source of tomatoes that caused the Salmonella outbreak.

New Mexico is one of the states that have been hit hardest by the Salmonella outbreak, but the FDA did not put it on the safe list of sources, prompting some people to speculate that this state may be the place the contaminated tomatoes came from.   But no officials have confirmed anything about the source.

What Salmonella strain has been involved in the outbreak?

The strain is Salmonella Saintpaul, which is not a common bacterium that causes any outbreak.   According to the CDC, there were only three cases of illness reported in 2007that were associated with S. Saintpaul.

Is Salmonella illness serious?

Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea and stomach pains, but rarely could it cause a fatal condition.   These symptoms may show up 12 to 72 hours after eating tainted foods and disappear with 4 to 7 days without any medical treatment in most people.  

However, Salmonella can be a serious risk to young children, the elderly and those with their immune system compromised such as HIV and cancer patients.   In rare cases, may this pathogen get into the bloodstream form the intestine and cause a life threatening condition.

What did the government recommend consumers do to prevent Salmonella illness?

There are a couple of things consumers can do to prevent salmonella infection. They should avoid eating raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes if they are from a source recognized by the FDA.  If you are not sure of the source, you may ask the food store.   In any case, refrigerate or discard tomatoes 2 hours after they are cut, peeled or cooked.   And when you shop, do not buy those with the skin damaged or bruised.   Also wash tomatoes thoroughly under running water before cooking or eating them.

It is believed that Salmonella can be killed by cooking at 145 degree F for 15 to 20 seconds.

Consumers should also be aware that raw tomatoes are often used in the preparation of fresh salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo, are part of fillings for tortillas, and are used in many other dishes.