The 411 on Tomatoes

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 369
Word Count: 214

Monday, June 16th

After a weekend in Madison and eating out at various restaurants, I was still a little confused on whether tomatoes were still taboo. Some restaurants were serving tomatoes, while others had them off their menus.

According to Laura Landro of the Wall Street Journal, "the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration are currently warning consumers nationwide to avoid raw red Roma, plum and round red tomatoes from certain sources, which are listed online at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html. So far, 167 people in 17 states have been infected since April with salmonella, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, according to the CDC". Researchers are unsure of the exact cause of contamination, but two explanations would be fecal matter from cows that gets into the soil or contaminated water that tomatoes are processed in at various plants.

Are there any tomatoes that are considered safe to eat at this time? YES......cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and tomatoes grown at home. The FDA is recommending that you do not cook with the roma, plum or round red tomatoes. Washing tomatoes well is not enough to get rid of salmonella either.

For the time being, avoid eating tomatoes if you are unsure of the exact type!

Rating: 2.00