Thread: Health officials question whether tomatoes behind outbreak

Health officials question whether tomatoes behind outbreak

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal health officials are checking into the possibility that an outbreak of salmonella-caused illness originally linked to tomatoes may instead be linked to something else, they said Friday.

The spread of a salmonella-related illness may not be linked to tomatoes, according to the FDA.

"Produce investigations are very difficult, because a lot of times, vegetables are eaten all together," said Dr. Patricia Griffin, chief of the Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. That makes it hard to trace back any one item to a source of contamination, she added. "We continue to keep an open mind about the possible source of this outbreak, as does FDA."

Dr. David Acheson, associate commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration, agreed. "There is a strong epidemiological association with tomatoes," but the agency is also "looking into other ingredients," he told reporters on a conference call.

He said FDA officials and tomato growers were involved in "a two-way dialogue."

The CDC says the outbreak, which is linked to a rare form of bacteria called Salmonella Saintpaul, has spread to include 810 cases in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

And there is no sign its abating. "We are still getting reports of recent illnesses," Griffin said.

The true incidence is probably much higher, since the agency has estimated that about 30 cases occur for every one that is reported.

Griffin said the most recent report of someone becoming ill with the type of salmonella linked to the outbreak came June 15.

This weekend, teams of investigators will focus on fields, warehouses and distribution centers in Mexico and Florida as possible sources of the outbreak.

Investigators have collected about 1,700 tomato samples, "and so far, all of these have been negative," Acheson said.

He said the investigators' ability to find the source of the bacterium has been complicated by the practice among processors of repacking as many as 90 percent of tomatoes. It is not unusual for domestic and imported tomatoes to be packed in the same box, he said.

"This outbreak is not over," he said. "We are still putting all resources into it that we have."

But Acheson reiterated comments he made last week -- that investigators may never find the source of the outbreak.

Griffin said it was not clear whether the outbreak is tailing off, since the average time between when a person becomes ill with the salmonella and when it is reported is 16 days.

"It's very difficult to say much about illnesses in June," she told reporters in a conference call. "Any illness that is occurring now would not be reported until several weeks from now."

Acheson added, "Just because this outbreak is ongoing doesn't mean it's not tomatoes."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/27/salmon ... index.html

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE REGIONAL PACKING HOUSES SO VEGGIES DONT HAVE TO TRAVEL SO FAR AND GO THROUGH SO MANY HANDS.

AND WE NEED TO START GROWING ALL OUR OWN FOOD IN THIS COUNTRY. WE DONT NEED TO IMPORT FOOD. IF WE HAVE REGIONAL GROWING AND PACKING THERE WOULD BE LESS RISK OF CONTAMINATION.

IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE POISONINGS ALL THE TIME. AND HIRE LOCAL WORKERS. AT LEAST THAT WAY IF THERE IS AN OUTBREAK IT WOULD BE CONTAINED AND WOULD NOT BE NATIONWIDE. IT WOULD ALSO BE EASIER TO TRACK DOWN.