Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

[roset]

I know Az. has had several cases of salmonella because of raw tomatoes, grocery stores took them off the shelves but today I saw tomatoes. I am afraid to buy them now. Mc Donalds had a sign on the door no tomatoes on sandwiches. Now I want a BLT or maybe just a BL. Is it safe to buy them?? I always have them in the house.

[love all recipes]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

I live in Texas and it is here also. Suppose to only be slicing tomatoes and romas...but who knows. They pulled them off the shelves and in all restaurants..saying even the ones you plant. What's next?? They arn't sure if it is the tomatoes..that's the scary part. Heard it is in 16 states now.

[Boadecia]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

Haven't heard of it at all in my area - just how in the world could the ones I plant in my garden be contaminated except by something I put on them....

[roset]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

I heard if you cook them then you are OK but I like tomatoes sliced. I couldn't believe they are in the grocery store. I am really afraid to buy them. I'll wait it out for a week or two.

[cottun]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

This is the first I've heard of a tomato scare, and will be searching for more info on it. I cant imagine a summer without fresh tomatos! I've been waiting all year for them!

I planted 2 tomato plants of my own this year and I have about 15 small green tomatos on them so far. But the way I eat fresh tomatos in the summer, I have to supplement my own with ones from the Farmers Market.

[wishingstar]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

Vine ripe tomatoes at our local Kroger were pulled with a sign saying it was just a precaution etc ....we bought some afew days ago there, washed ate afew already on sandwiches ans not sick here, hope they locate the source soon just seems our food supply get worse every year

Thats weird about even tomato plants we plant I havent read that yet but sounds deliberate I dunno!

[roset]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

Wishingstar, it has gotten to Michigan??? I just thought the western states. I was in Frys(Kroger to some people) and they had tomatoes ready to buy. I guess they pulled off the bad ones but are the news ones bad for us??? I am sick of recalls, salmonella etc.. with the food plus add in all the crap with the economy. What is next?? How many recalls with beef and lettuce?? This has been a year, gas, real estate, 3 clowns trying for president and now they are messing around with the tomatoes. We can only take so much crap. LOL

[highclass1]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

i'm in mississippi. i can not find out which states have the recall. am i safe?

[StephanieM]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

I saw a sign up in Chipotle about the tomatillos may be tainted and the salsa's made with tomatillos weren't available. I haven't been to the store in a few days so I am unaware about tomatoes in sw michigan being tainted.

[Sabine]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

My local store pulled all tomatoes off several days ago, all that was left was just the grape and cherry tomatoes.

[AddictedToLOST]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

Heres a link to ABC Story http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=5021353

My Step-Son lives in Killeen TX. He was sick most of last week, He thought Last Monday that it was from an undercooked burger from Mcdonalds, Now not to sure.

Edit to add this link:

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html

[nuisance]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

We had 8-10 patients come in last week with Salmonella from tomatos from a local mexican joint. of the 70 in the wedding party, only the kids didn't get sick, and they had several graduation parties there also. All the restaurants have taken tomatos off their plates, can't get one on you sandwich for nothing. Not that I'd want one right now!! Grocery stores still had them in their produce Friday.

[Ginger]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

There was a fellow from the Dept. of Agriculture, on our local news today. He said that salmonella can come from several different sources--including US. If we don't wash our own hands properly, we can be contaminating our own food. Also, when washing fruit or veg, do not have the water more than 10 degrees hotter than the item being washed. If it is hotter, it can actually push the bacteria into the fruit or veg. So, if you are washing something from the fridge, use cool to cold water to do it.

[wishingstar]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

I dont think anyone has been sick in Mich, Kroger on fenton road that we went to the sign said it was a precaution and vine ripe tomatoes were on sale just .99 a pound so me and my sis both got rain checks .......we already bought some last week (very same ones they are now pulling) washed and eat and never got sick.

Hope they get this under control asap this is NOT the season or time of year to mess with our tomatoes!!!!!!!!

[cottun]

Re: Anyone going threw the tomato scare?

The Food and Drug Administration is expanding its warning to consumers nationwide that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing these raw, red tomatoes.

FDA recommends that consumers not eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red round tomatoes, or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes unless the tomatoes are from the sources listed below. If unsure of where tomatoes are grown or harvested, consumers are encouraged to contact the store where the tomato purchase was made. Consumers should continue to eat cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, or tomatoes grown at home.

On June 5, using traceback and other distribution pattern information, FDA published a list of states, territories, and countries where tomatoes are grown and harvested which have not been associated with this outbreak.

This updated list includes: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico.

This list will be updated as more information becomes available.

FDA's recommendation does not apply to the following tomatoes from any source: cherry, grape, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached.

FDA recommends that retailers, restaurateurs, and food service operators not offer for sale and service raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes unless they are from the sources listed above. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, may continue to be offered from any source.

Since mid April, there have been 145 reported cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Saintpaul nationwide, including at least 23 hospitalizations. 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. Salmonella Saintpaul is an uncommon type of Salmonella.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, the organism can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses. Consumers who have recently eaten raw tomatoes or foods containing raw tomatoes and are experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their health care provider. All Salmonella infections should be reported to state or local health authorities.

FDA recognizes that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited to a single grower or packer or tomatoes from a specific geographic area. FDA also recognizes 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 Centers 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.

FDA is taking these actions while the agency continues to investigate this outbreak with state and federal partners. Such actions are a key component of FDA?s Food Protection Plan a scientific and risk-based approach to strengthen and protect the nation?s food supply.