Posted by: David Woodruff
June 12, 2008
Topic: Tomatoes Determined Cause of Recent Salmonella Outbreak

At last count, nearly 230 people across the United States have reported being infected with a strain of salmonella poisoning believed to have been caused by contaminated red tomatoes. To date, two such cases have been reported in Colorado, appearing in Weld and Otero counties.

The FDA has issued a warning on raw red roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes. The FDA suggests that consumers throw away these types of tomatoes as well as any other products that may contain them.

The types of tomatoes that the FDA has deemed safe and are not linked to the warning include: any tomatoes grown at home, vine tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes.

Symptoms experienced by those suffering from salmonella poisoning include fever, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea and are often similar to flu-like symptoms. The symptoms usually appear between 12 and 72 hours after ingestion. The elderly, very young, and those that have a compromised immune system are especially at risk for developing a more serious infection from consuming salmonella infected food.

Our firm is currently handling one of Colorado's salmonella cases, and has previously handled cases involving E. coli infection. Both salmonella and E. coli cases involve intense expertise, and we are proud to be able to effectively represent our clients against producers of food items like tomatoes contaminated by salmonella or E. coli.

If you have consumed any of the types of tomatoes that the FDA has deemed unsafe and are experiencing similar symptoms, visit your healthcare provider right away. Salmonella can lead to serious, and in extreme cases, fatal infections.

If your doctor suspects salmonella poisoning, a report should also be made with your local health department immediately.

Washing your hands frequently, washing produce before eating, and frequently washing surfaces on which food is prepared are all good ways to reduce the risk of contracting salmonella and other food-borne illnesses. Meat, poultry and eggs should be cooked thoroughly and raw fruits and vegetables should not be handled after handling raw meat.

Tomatoes Determined Cause of Recent Salmonella Outbreak

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