An expanding outbreak of Salmonella infections has prompted the FDA to warn consumers not to eat certain types of raw tomatoes until further investigations can be undertaken. Included in the warning are these varieties: red Roma, red plum, red round tomatoes, and any products containing those varieties. It is safe to eat these varieties: cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes with the vine still attached. In response, many grocers and restaurants around the country have pulled all tomatoes; 145 cases of Salmonella linked to the tomatoes have now been reported from 16 states dating back to mid-April.
Salmonella is an intestinal bacteria that causes diarrhea as well as more serious complications such as infections of the bones, blood, and brain. As with many infections, the very young, the very old, and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk. Symptoms that should get you to the doctor include severe or prolonged diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain – these may occur separately or together.
Salmonella infections are common in the U.S., often associated with a food source (for more on Salmonella and foodborne illnesses, see Chapters 2, 3, and 9 in Germ Proof Your Kids – The Complete Guide to Protecting (without Overprotecting) Your Family from Infections (ASM Press, Washington, D.C., 2008). In most cases, the food becomes contaminated with human or animal feces. In the case of produce, the likely source is animal contamination in the fields where the produce has been grown – although contamination from infected farmworkers may also cause or contribute to an outbreak.
This is a big country, and there are billions of tomatoes out there. Yet, in the past 2 months there have been only 145 reported cases. Experts agree that for every reported case, there may be many that go unreported, so the true number of cases may be greater – but still very rare in the context of all the people who have eaten tomatoes.
For now, be careful and avoid the implicated tomato varieties; it is safe to eat the types of tomatoes in bold above. As with the food infection outbreaks associated with spinach and pizza last year (see previous GERMBlog posts and Chapters 2, 3, and 9 of Germ Proof Your Kids – The Complete Guide to Protecting (without Overprotecting) Your Family from Infections ), this too shall pass. We may learn that a single farm caused all of this, or that several origins are identified – but it will be controlled and tomatoes will be back on the menu in a few weeks.
For FDA updates on the outbreak investigation, go to: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html#retailers