As you know from our June 1 Issue Alert, United Fresh has been in contact with health officials and other industry groups since last weekend, and our food safety, communication and regulatory staff have continued to monitor health authorities' investigations into a Salmonella saintpaul outbreak. Here is the latest update:
Today, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued notices regarding their ongoing investigations of a foodborne illness outbreak caused by Salmonella saintpaul.
This morning, CDC advised "consumers in New Mexico and Texas, until the source of the implicated tomatoes is determined, persons with increased risk of severe infection, including infants, elderly persons, and those with impaired immune systems, should not eat raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home, and persons who want to reduce their risk of Salmonella infection can avoid consuming raw Roma or red round tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home." A news article in the Albuquerque Journal reported today that the contaminated tomatoes were from Mexico, but United Fresh can not substantiate that report.
Regarding its investigation in New Mexico and Texas, FDA stated this evening that the "the specific type and source of tomatoes are under investigation. However, preliminary data suggest that raw red plum, red Roma, or round red tomatoes are the cause." FDA advised consumers in New Mexico and Texas to "limit their tomato consumption to tomatoes that have not been implicated in the outbreak." The FDA notice specifically stated that cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and tomatoes grown at home have not been implicated in the outbreak.
There are 57 reported cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella saintpaul in New Mexico and Texas, including 17 hospitalizations. There are no deaths. These illnesses were reported from April 23 through June 1, 2008. FDA is conducting a traceback in order to determine the source of the contaminated product as quickly as possible.
FDA stated in its notice that it "recognizes that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited to a single grower or packer or tomatoes from a specific geographic area. FDA also recognizes that there are many tomato crops across the country and in foreign countries that are just becoming ready for harvest or will become ready in the coming months. In order to ensure that consumers can continue to enjoy tomatoes that are safe to eat, FDA is working diligently with the states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian Health Service, and various food industry trade associations to quickly determine the source and type of the contaminated tomatoes."
FDA, CDC and health officials in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Utah, Colorado, Kansas and the Navaho nation in the Four Corners region are also working together to identify the source of an ongoing foodborne illness outbreak also due to Salmonella saintpaul in those states. Approximately 30 reports of illness in these states are currently being investigated to determine the source of illness. No product has been linked to these cases. There are no reported deaths.
For more information on this outbreak, visit the United Fresh website at www.unitedfresh.org.
Information about Salmonella can be found on the FDA website and general safe food handling procedures can be found at the Partnership for Food Safety Education.
United Fresh staff will keep you updated as information becomes available. In the meantime, feel free to contact us at:
Amy Philpott, Vice President, Communications
Dr. David Gombas, Senior Vice President of Food Safety & Technology
