By Bernama,
Los Angeles : U.S. health officials expanded their warning about salmonella-contaminated tomatoes nationwide as the disease has claimed the first death since its outbreak.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted consumers that the outbreak of salmonella contamination seems to be linked with certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing these tomatoes.
In particular, the agency quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying, raw red plum tomatoes, raw red Roma tomatoes and raw round red tomatoes should be avoided at this time.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 167 persons have been infected with Salmonella saintpaul, an unusual and virulent form of salmonella, since mid-April. Infections have occurred in 17 states and at least 23 people have been hospitalized.
Local media reported that one man died, apparently after eating pico de gallo, a tomato-based condiment, at a Texas restaurant in May. The 67-year-old man also suffered from cancer, but the death has been officially attributed to that disease.
As the disease was spreading, experts cautioned consumers to employ a little detective work and forgo certain types of tomatoes for the near future.
“The best advice right now is to be extremely careful in trying to find out exactly where the tomatoes they’re purchasing are from,” said Tony Corbo, legislative representative for Food & Water Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit consumer group that works to ensure clean water and safe food.
“The other problem with tomatoes is that they have shown up in restaurants and in salsa. So, maybe for the time being, consumers should stay away from anything that is processed,” Corbo said.
Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, home-grown tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached appear to be safe. But all tomatoes should be washed before eating, officials advised.
On Tuesday, FDA officials also recommended that retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators not offer raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes unless they are from sources that have not been associated with the outbreak.
If unsure of where tomatoes were grown or harvested, consumers are encouraged to contact the store where the tomato purchase was made, the agency said.
Several large fast food restaurant and grocery chains, including McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Kroger and Outback Steakhouse, have voluntarily withdrawn red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes not grown in certain states and countries.
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, the FDA said.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea in humans. Some 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States each year, although the CDC estimates that, because milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the actual number of infections may be 30 or more times greater.
Approximately 600 people die each year after being infected.