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Tomatoes Get the All-Clear From FDA

Peppers now the prime suspects; more than 1,200 sickened

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 18, 2008

Food Safety • CDC Gives "All Clear" On Salmonella Outbreak • One Death Reported in Oklahoma E. coli Outbreak • Feds Approve Irradiation of Spinach, Lettuce • FDA Issues Warning About Frozen Seafood • Whole Foods Extends Beef Recall • Whole Foods Recalls Fresh Ground Beef • Six New E. coli Cases Reported In Massachusetts • FDA Says It Found Salmonella Source In Mexico • U.S. Peppers Get Clean Bill Of Health • Jalapeño Peppers from Mexico Recalled • Tomatoes Get the All-Clear From FDA • Salmonella Toll Quietly Climbs • USDA to List Retailers in Meat Recalls • Emergency Regs Needed for Tracking Produce, Food Groups Say • Nebraska Beef Recall Expanded to 5.3 Million Pounds • Consumer Group Presses Feds to Fix Food System • Kroger Expands Ground Beef Recall • Salmonella Outbreak is Biggest Ever Tied to Produce • E. coli Outbreak May Be Linked To Kroger Ground Beef • Salmonella: Trickier Than Imagined • Congressional Report Faults FDA Inaction • Tomatoes Off the Menu as Feds Search for Source • FDA 'Inaction' Blamed for Salmonella Outbreak • Restaurants Shun Tomatoes In Wake Of Salmonella Outbreak • FDA Warns Of Tomato-Linked Salmonella • USDA Bans Downer Cow Slaughter • CDC Links 2006 Salmonella Outbreak to Dog Food --- • More ...

After weeks of unsuccessfully trying to trace the origin of an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it's okay for consumers to start eating tomatoes again.

The agency updated its warning, saying that after a lengthy investigation, it has determined that "fresh tomatoes now available in the domestic market are not associated with the current outbreak."

As a result, the agency has removed its June 7 warning against eating certain types of red raw tomatoes.

"As of today, FDA officials believe that consumers may enjoy all types of fresh tomatoes available on the domestic market," the FDA said in its update.

Previously, consumers were warned against eating raw red plum, raw red Roma, and raw red round tomatoes because of the belief they were associated with the outbreak. As the weeks went on, however, it became less clear that tomatoes were, in fact, the culprit.

Now, the suspicion is focused on raw jalapeño and raw serrano peppers now available in the domestic market. The FDA says they may be linked to illnesses in this outbreak, but an investigation is continuing to determine that. So far, there has been no conclusive evidence.

"At this time, people in high risk populations, such as elderly persons, infants and people with impaired immune systems, should avoid eating raw jalapeño and raw serrano peppers," the FDA said.

According to the CDC, 1,220 persons infected with Salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint have been identified in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.

Meanwhile, tomato growers are not happy. Some industry leaders have expressed outrage that their crops were needlessly destroyed, costing millions in lost revenue. They've been calling members of Congress, and Congressional hearings have been set for the end of the month.

Symptoms of salmonella include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.

It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy people often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, the organism can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses.

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