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Tomatoes spark US salmonella scare

11/06/2008

Health officials are trying to quickly find the source of tomatoes that have caused a salmonella outbreak in the US.

Since mid April there have been 145 reported cases of salmonella poisoning, causing at least 23 people to be hospitalised.

Shops and restaurants have been told not to sell tomatoes linked to the outbreak: raw red plum, red Roma and red round tomatoes, and products containing these tomatoes.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it is safe for people to eat cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, or tomatoes grown at home.

States reporting illnesses linked to the outbreak include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

"FDA recognises that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited to a single grower or packer or tomatoes from a specific geographic area," a statement from the administration said.

"FDA also recognises that there are many tomato crops across the country and in foreign countries that will be ready for harvest or will become ready in the coming months.

"In order to ensure that consumers can continue to enjoy tomatoes that are safe to eat, FDA is working diligently with the states, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian Health Service and various food industry trade associations to quickly determine the source of the tomatoes associated with the outbreak."

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.

It can cause fever, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.