FDA deems most Florida tomatoes safe
FDA deems most Florida tomatoes safe
Charles H. Bronson, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, announced Tuesday afternoon, June 10, that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has deemed Florida-grown tomatoes safe.
Later in the evening, the FDA updated its website to reflect the change. As of that update, 24 states and seven offshore countries had been added to the FDA's list of areas that "have not been associated with the outbreak."
Using apparent extreme caution, however, the addition of Florida to the FDA list is accompanied by a list of specific counties. Tomatoes deemed safe from Florida include those produced in 19 of the state's 67 counties. The listing of counties ends in an asterisk, which references a footnote stating, "Shipments of tomatoes harvested in these counties are acceptable with a certificate issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services." Commissioner Bronson stated that the certificate would verify that the tomatoes are from Florida.
Tomato harvesting is currently underway in three areas of Florida -- Quincy, Ruskin and Palmetto -- all located near the state's northern border. All three are in counties where tomatoes have been deemed safe.
Commissioner Bronson's press release also stated that Florida growers have already had truckloads of tomatoes turned away by retailers concerned about the Salmonella outbreak that has affected mostly western states, and that retailers were being notified on Tuesday of Florida's addition to the "safe to eat" list. He added that he hoped Florida tomatoes would be back on store shelves immediately and enjoyed by all.
"I was confident Florida was not the problem and was not the source of the salmonella outbreak impacting other states," Commissioner Bronson said in the press release. "Florida tomato growers have one of the most stringent tomato production programs in the nation. They initiated the heightened safety standards several years ago to ensure public confidence in their product."
Later in the evening, the FDA updated its website to reflect the change. As of that update, 24 states and seven offshore countries had been added to the FDA's list of areas that "have not been associated with the outbreak."
Using apparent extreme caution, however, the addition of Florida to the FDA list is accompanied by a list of specific counties. Tomatoes deemed safe from Florida include those produced in 19 of the state's 67 counties. The listing of counties ends in an asterisk, which references a footnote stating, "Shipments of tomatoes harvested in these counties are acceptable with a certificate issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services." Commissioner Bronson stated that the certificate would verify that the tomatoes are from Florida.
Tomato harvesting is currently underway in three areas of Florida -- Quincy, Ruskin and Palmetto -- all located near the state's northern border. All three are in counties where tomatoes have been deemed safe.
Commissioner Bronson's press release also stated that Florida growers have already had truckloads of tomatoes turned away by retailers concerned about the Salmonella outbreak that has affected mostly western states, and that retailers were being notified on Tuesday of Florida's addition to the "safe to eat" list. He added that he hoped Florida tomatoes would be back on store shelves immediately and enjoyed by all.
"I was confident Florida was not the problem and was not the source of the salmonella outbreak impacting other states," Commissioner Bronson said in the press release. "Florida tomato growers have one of the most stringent tomato production programs in the nation. They initiated the heightened safety standards several years ago to ensure public confidence in their product."
