Salmonella & Tomatoes How To Protect Your Family

 Here are some of the questions I've been asked about the salmonella and tomatoes post I made earlier.  If you are questioning whether or not you have salmonella please contact your health care provider.

What Types of Tomatoes Are Linked To The Outbreak?

According to the CDC Roma tomatoes and big round tomatoes have been the ones identified (to date) with the outbreak.

Note: I am unable to find a variety of tomato called 'big round".  When the CDC gathers information from physicians treating the people with salmonella it uses the descriptions given by the patients to their health care provider. So it appears "big round" tomatoes are the types described by people interview by the CDC or various health departments.

 What Are Tips For Protecting My Family?

The CDC suggests the following:

• In New Mexico and Texas, until the source of the implicated tomatoes is determined,
  • persons with increased risk of severe infection, including infants, elderly persons, and those with impaired immune systems, should not eat raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home, and
  • persons who want to reduce their risk of Salmonella infection can avoid consuming raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home.
• Avoid purchasing bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.
• Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water.
• Refrigerate within 2 hours or discard cut, peeled, or cooked tomatoes.
• Keep tomatoes that will be consumed raw separate from raw meats, raw seafood, and raw produce items.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between types of food products. (source: CDC )

I would add these suggestions:

• Wash your hands after using the bathroom and encourage family members to do the same.
• If you or a family member is in one of the high risk category don't eat tomatoes either purchased, in a restaurant or food shop until the source is determined. This includes salsa, pico de gallo, whole tomatoes, sliced tomatoes and other fresh tomato preparations.
• If you think you have salmonella contact your health care provider.  Self-treatment can be harmful and depending on someone's health status serious and occasionally death. Dehydration from diarrhea is a serious problem with salmonella.
• Don't self medicate. One of the challenges with salmonella and other diseases is some strains have become antibiotic resistant. (That is many types of antibiotics have little or no effect in killing the bacteria.)
• Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating. Don't scrub tomatoes. Scrubbing can break the skin. If the bacteria is on the surface it will then enter the tomato through the break in the skin.

Won't Just Washing The Tomatoes Get Rid Of The Salmonella?

The answer is not necessarily.  At this time, it is not known if the salmonella Stpaul linked to this outbreak is found on the surface of the tomatoes or inside the tomatoes. The salmonella bacteria can enter the tomato  through cracks in the skin, through the broken stem.

Here  are some tips from the FDA on safe preparation of vegetables.

Begin with clean hands. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce.

• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables before preparing and/or eating. Produce that looks rotten should be discarded.
• All produce should be thoroughly washed before eating. This includes produce grown conventionally or organically at home, or produce that is purchased from a grocery store or farmer's market. Wash fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting or cooking.
• Even if you plan to peel the produce before eating, it is still important to wash it first.
• Washing fruits and vegetables with soap or detergent or using commercial produce washes is not recommended.
• Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
• Drying produce with a clean cloth towel or paper towel may further reduce bacteria that may be present.

Update from FDA as of 6/9/2008 :States and countries  the FDA says have not been associated with the outbreak, and are considered safe sources to eat tomatoes from are: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, the Netherlands, and Puerto Rico.

Also OK: cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, home-grown and still-on-the-vine tomatoes from any source.

Your health care provider, local extension service, local, provincial or state health department or service can provide more information and answer additional questions and concerns you might have.

All in a gardener's day,

Resources/Links Used For This Article: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5413a1.htm , www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/, aac.asm.org/cgi/reprint/43/9/2278.pdf,   www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodsafe.html#storage

Thanks to Jeltovski  for the use of the tomato photo.