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July 11, 2008, 11:45PM
Mexico declares its tomatoes are free of salmonella


By DUDLEY ALTHAUS
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle Mexico City Bureau


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Mexican agricultural officials declared Friday that that the country's tomato crop is free of salmonella bacteria.
American investigators have suspected imported Mexican tomatoes and chili peppers in a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 1,000 people across the United States.

But Mexico's agriculture ministry said Friday that a two-week study of Mexican tomatoes by its specialists — conducted in tandem with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — has found the tomato crop to be free of infection.

"It's not possible to accept that the tomato is the cause of infection," a statement from the ministry said. "The scientific evidence clearly shows that the Mexican tomato has no responsibility in the unfortunate public health problem in the United States."

Mexican officials, the statement said, were "demanding" that the FDA recognize the evidence that the Mexican crop is not infected.

Mexico is a major source of tomatoes and other vegetables for U.S. tables, especially in the winter months. Mexican producers have complained that the suggestion that the salmonella outbreak began here has caused uncounted losses.

The FDA has cleared tomatoes grown in most Mexican states, according to the agency's Web site. But those cultivated in Jalisco and Sinaloa states — the latter of which accounts for 40 percent of Mexico's tomato exports — have not yet been approved.

Since April, infection from the Saint Paul strain of salmonella has sickened 1,065 people across the United States and Canada. The FDA advises that elderly, infant and immune-deficient people avoid eating raw red tomatoes from areas not yet determined to be free of salmonella. It advises against eating raw jalapeño and serrano chili peppers.

Salmonella bacteria can be transmitted to humans who eat food contaminated with animal feces. Salmonella causes intestinal problems in humans, resulting in diarrhea, fever and cramps.

dudley.althaus@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5883922.html