Foodborne illness outbreak linked to tomatoes
Foodborne illness outbreak linked to tomatoes
(The following information is from a June 2 alert from the Produce Marketing Association.)
U.S. public health authorities have now linked a foodborne illness outbreak to round red and/or Roma/plum tomatoes.
To date, the outbreak, caused by Salmonella saintpaul, has sickened 57 people in Texas and New Mexico from April 23 through June 1.
Other states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Utah) have reported about 30 S. saintpaul illnesses total but have not linked them to any food item yet. Authorities also updated other details, now reporting that the outbreak began in late April; patients range in age from 3 to 82 years; 48 percent are female. At least 17 people were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention are characterizing the outbreak as ongoing, and have issued information on the outbreak. (To see the CDC information, visit the CDC web site; to see the FDA information, visit the FDA web site.) FDA is advising consumers in New Mexico and Texas not to eat raw round red or Roma/plum tomatoes or products made from those items. (Earlier reports stating consumers should eat only those products were incorrect.)
In addition, according to news sources, the New Mexico Department of Health has indicated that the tomatoes likely were sourced from Mexico.
FDA has indicated that the following types of tomatoes are not linked to this outbreak: grape, cherry, on-the-vine or grown-at-home tomatoes. Other colors of tomatoes (e.g. yellow or orange tomatoes) are also excluded. FDA is conducting a traceback to further narrow the types of tomatoes and the source.
FDA is not asking industry to take any action at this time.
FDA stated that it recognizes that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited to a single grower or packer of tomatoes or tomatoes from a specific geographic area. FDA said it also recognizes that there are many tomato crops across the country and in other countries that are just becoming ready for harvest or will become ready in the coming months.
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 & Prevention, the Indian Health Service and various food industry trade associations, including PMA, to quickly determine the source and type of the contaminated tomatoes.
U.S. public health authorities have now linked a foodborne illness outbreak to round red and/or Roma/plum tomatoes.
To date, the outbreak, caused by Salmonella saintpaul, has sickened 57 people in Texas and New Mexico from April 23 through June 1.
Other states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Utah) have reported about 30 S. saintpaul illnesses total but have not linked them to any food item yet. Authorities also updated other details, now reporting that the outbreak began in late April; patients range in age from 3 to 82 years; 48 percent are female. At least 17 people were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention are characterizing the outbreak as ongoing, and have issued information on the outbreak. (To see the CDC information, visit the CDC web site; to see the FDA information, visit the FDA web site.) FDA is advising consumers in New Mexico and Texas not to eat raw round red or Roma/plum tomatoes or products made from those items. (Earlier reports stating consumers should eat only those products were incorrect.)
In addition, according to news sources, the New Mexico Department of Health has indicated that the tomatoes likely were sourced from Mexico.
FDA has indicated that the following types of tomatoes are not linked to this outbreak: grape, cherry, on-the-vine or grown-at-home tomatoes. Other colors of tomatoes (e.g. yellow or orange tomatoes) are also excluded. FDA is conducting a traceback to further narrow the types of tomatoes and the source.
FDA is not asking industry to take any action at this time.
FDA stated that it recognizes that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited to a single grower or packer of tomatoes or tomatoes from a specific geographic area. FDA said it also recognizes that there are many tomato crops across the country and in other countries that are just becoming ready for harvest or will become ready in the coming months.
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 & Prevention, the Indian Health Service and various food industry trade associations, including PMA, to quickly determine the source and type of the contaminated tomatoes.
