Thread: Jalapenos may be salmonella culprit

Jalapenos may be salmonella culprit
By Ruth Mantell, MarketWatch


Last update: 1:36 p.m. EDT July 5, 2008 Comments: 29

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --

Jalapeno peppers are a new focus of the investigation into the salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people in at least 40 states, according to media reports.

Government health investigators had initially focused on some types of fresh tomatoes, which have been removed from menus across the country, but are turning toward jalapenos as sicknesses continue. Salsa ingredients cilantro and Serrano peppers are also under scrutiny, according to reports.

"Recently, many clusters of illnesses have been identified in Texas and other states among persons who ate at restaurants," according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statement. "These clusters have led us to broaden the investigation to be sure that it encompasses food items that are commonly consumed with tomatoes."

As of Friday evening, 943 persons infected with salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint have been identified in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, according to CDC. Illnesses are believed to have begun in early April.

CNN reported that the U.S. investigation is focusing on imports from Mexico, and that starting Monday inspectors will stop shipments of produce for common Mexican cuisine ingredients. So far Texas is by far the leader in reported illnesses, with 356 reports of ill people as of late Friday. New Mexico has 98 reported illnesses, while Illinois has 93.

Government investigators have been looking for the source of the salmonella outbreak for weeks -- a frustrating experience that highlights the need for more resources dedicated to improved food-safety science.

Last month, the FDA's food-safety plan came under intense criticism from the Government Accountability Office, which voiced concerns about its direction and resources. The FDA, which is responsible for overseeing about 80% of the food supply, recently issued an update on a food-protection plan, and said it is working to identify best practices for traceability, and will hire at least another 130 employees to conduct food field exams, inspections and sample collections.
http://tinyurl.com/5vt3s2

Salmonella signs point to peppers
By Jonathan D. Rockoff | Sun reporter
July 4, 2008

WASHINGTON - Investigators are seeing more signs that the salmonella outbreak blamed on tomatoes might have been caused by tainted jalapeno peppers and have begun collecting samples from restaurants and from the homes of those who have been sickened, according to health officials involved in the probe.

New interviews with those who became infected found that many had eaten jalapeno peppers, often in salsa served with Mexican food, according to two state health officials. So far, none of the jalapenos taken from restaurants and from the homes of those who became ill have tested positive for Salmonella saintpaul.

Echoing federal officials, who said this week that tomatoes remain the prime suspect, the health officials said that tomatoes cannot be ruled out as the cause of the outbreak. Investigators have been collecting samples of another possible suspect, cilantro, though the herb is less likely to be the source, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.

The outbreak, which began 12 weeks ago, is believed to be the largest of its kind, and new cases continue to emerge. It has sickened more than 920 people across the country, up from 756 one week ago, and sent more than 110 to the hospital. In Maryland, 29 people have been confirmed to have the illness, which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and, in severe cases, death.

In late May, investigators began focusing on tomatoes as the probable source of the outbreak. But they expanded their investigation last week, asking 100 labs around the country to help, because the number of new infections kept growing despite the short shelf life of tomatoes and warnings to avoid certain varieties.

Delays in pinpointing the cause of the outbreak have frustrated consumers, angered the produce industry and prompted members of Congress to call for food safety reforms.

"How sad is that? We can't even really figure out what it is," said Rep. Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat who has proposed food tracking and mandatory recall measures. "We've had the same problem with other products in past years, which shows us the food safety system in this country is outdated and underfunded."

Chile peppers are largely grown in Mexico, Central America and warm weather U.S. states such as Florida. Food-safety specialists said jalapenos are not a common cause of bacterial outbreaks and counseled caution about rushing to judgment that the peppers are responsible for this one.

Contaminated green chile peppers in Colorado sickened 80 people in 1998 and 60 in 2001, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which tracks food-borne illnesses. Neither outbreak involved salmonella bacteria.

A likely source of jalepeno contamination is the water used to irrigate plants or wash peppers after they're picked, said Robert B. Gravani, a food science professor at Cornell University.

One health official involved in the investigation said "loose ends" are keeping tomatoes under suspicion, but the official said they could be accounted for easily. The official said evidence is "piling up" that indicates that jalapenos are to blame.

"There's certainly no shred of doubt in my mind," the official said.

Another health official was more cautious, saying that the evidence is pointing to peppers but that there is not yet enough information to rule out tomatoes. The official said the Food and Drug Administration is enlisting more labs in the investigation so it can test jalapenos, tomatoes and cilantro more quickly.

Both officials played down the likelihood that cilantro is to blame, saying the evidence for that is thin.

Health officials fear that an acknowledgment that the outbreak was not caused by tomatoes could undermine confidence in the public health system. Officials are especially worried that it could reduce support for using statistical analysis of interviews with infected people to justify warnings and recalls, despite many previous successes, because officials decided to issue the tomato warning without waiting to find one that was contaminated.

Tomato industry groups have criticized the use of statistical analysis and say that government health officials should wait until they find a contaminated product before taking serious actions such as recalls. But government officials say that delaying a warning could cause serious harm to public health, because more people could become sick without an early alert.

The tomato industry estimates that it has lost $100 million since the June 10 warning.

"What makes it so pathetic is there has been nothing found," said Bob Spencer, co-owner of West Coast Tomato, which was forced to stop harvesting its fields in Florida and let tomatoes rot in company warehouses.

Liberal interest groups, leading trade associations and congressional critics say the failure to find the outbreak's source, after seven weeks of trying, points up the need for better food tracking systems. They contend that better labeling could quickly lead investigators to a farm that harvested suspicious produce.

Some growers and suppliers have such tracking systems in place. Critics say the FDA should require the tracking systems, which provide detailed information about the source and distribution of produce.

"There is a lot of frustration that the FDA cannot tell us where the tomatoes are from or even whether tomatoes are the cause," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health ... 9689.story

If, indeed, jalapenos and/or cilantro is the culprit I know I'm okay since I don't eat either. I believe that's a Mexican combination in salsa.

Irony at it's best.

There was a show on CNN today that was about salmonella and it was scary. They were showing a microbiologist who put salmonella on spinach leaves and tried various methods to wash it. Don't waste your time getting a fruit and vegetable wash as it does not do much. In fact no method was able to reduce it to the level that would not make you sick. The best method to reduce it the most was soaking it in a water and bleach mixture. We shouldn't have to do that to ensure our food is safe.

I've been telling everyone that the whole chipotle thing is bad news.

Hey, welcome to Mexico.. don't drink the water.

W

Montezuma's Revenge!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montezuma% ... 7s_Revenge

says on Wikie that

"Salmonella is the cause for 33% of cases of the Revenge or Traveler's Diarrhea"

Montezuma's Revenge:

Montezuma's revenge

Montezuma's revenge (var. Moctezuma's revenge) is the colloquial term for any cases of traveler's diarrhea contracted by tourists visiting Mexico. The name humorously refers to Montezuma II (1466-1520), the Tlatoani (ruler) of the Aztec civilization who was defeated by Hernándo Cortés the Spanish conquistador.

It is estimated that 40% of foreign traveler vacations in Mexico are disrupted by infection.[8] Most cases are mild and resolve in a few days with no treatment. Severe or extended cases, however, may result in extensive fluid loss and/or dangerous electrolytic imbalance which pose a severe medical risk and may prove fatal if mismanaged. The oversight of a medical professional is advised.

Not all water supplies in Mexico are contaminated and many hotels have water purification systems that eliminate risk. Certain resort destinations also have large-scale water purification systems which provide safe water city-wide. Roadside and popular food stalls specifically should be avoided.

So in brief...

40% of the people that travel to Mexico get sick from the water due to E Coli and Salmonella and other pathogens in the drinking water.

Now people are shocked the produce being sent up from Mexico makes you sick?

Duh.

W

if you take into account the water and the way they nourish their crops it is a wonder ??

I have been using the water in Mexico being used to water plants as the reason for the produce problem for some time. Why haven't the FDA figured that out yet. I guess common sense is not that common.

I really don't think its hard to connect the dots... When you defecate in the fields that grow you are going to have problems.