I came back home and looked up about the salmonella bacteria, satisfied with my search and decision to skip buying tomato’s for the week, I went about business. But today when I heard about one death being reported due to the bacterial infection, I felt compelled to share this with others.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control officials say consumption of raw tomatoes may be the likely source of salmonella St. Paul, a bacterial infection that has affected more than 145 people in 16 states, since April. The outbreak is believed to have started around mid April.
Although the specific source of the illness has not been determined, people should avoid eating raw Roma or full-size tomatoes. The outbreak is believed to be linked to tomatoes, but it is unclear exactly where the contaminated fruit originated and the source of the raw tomatoes responsible for the illnesses has not been traced as yet.
Certain types of large tomatoes like Roma, round and red varieties have been banned. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached are considered safe. All the home-grown verities are okey to consume.
So far, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Indiana, California, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have reported cases of the illness. Texas and New Mexico are the most affected.
Good to know:
- Cooking kills the salmonella bacteria. Tomatoes cooked for 15 seconds or more at 150 degrees Fahrenheit may not be harmful.
- Most fast-food chain and restaurants have announced that they will stop using tomatoes after an increase in reported cases of salmonella.
- Some grocery stores across the nation have pulled tomatoes from their menus and store shelves due to the salmonella bacteria outbreak.
- McDonald's, Subway restaurants, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, Long John Silver's have announced that they would not be serving tomatoes in salads or toppings till further notice.
- Tomatoes sold with the vine still attached are deemed to be safe.
What You Need to Know About Salmonella:
- Salmonellosis is an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms of salmonella infection include headache, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes vomiting.
- These symptoms may go away after four to seven days but without antibiotic treatment the sick person may be able to pass the disease to others for up to two months.
- People who have salmonellosis should not take antidiarrhreal medicines because this may lengthen the complete recovery time.
- People with symptoms should and visit a doctor. Drinking plenty of water and taking rest helps.
- A stool test for Salmonella bacteria detection and a course of antibiotics may be recommended by your doctor.
Further Precautions:
Children should not return to day care or school and food handlers should not return to work until the diarrhea stops completely and temperature returns to normal.
More about salmonella:
Salmonellosis can also be spread by eating raw or undercooked poultry, eggs, or raw milk and milk products or untreated water. You may get affected by having any kind of hand-to-mouth contact with the stool (feces) of an infected person or animal.
So you are more likely to get salmonellosis if you work in a day-care facility or with diapered children who are affected by the bacteria. Or if you handle pets or livestock or clean their living areas, since this bacteria affects animals too.
As a precaution you should
- Avoid raw milk or raw milk products. Cook them
- Avoid drinking water from ponds, lakes, rivers as it may be contaminated.
- Cook all poultry, eggs, and egg products thoroughly. Cook even the leftovers at 165°F.
- For poultry the temperature in the centre should be at least 170°F or till the centre is no longer pink and its juice is clear.
- Raw eggs should be cooked at 160°F till the egg whites are not runny.
- Always wash your hands after going to the restroom and after changing a baby's diaper.
- Wash hands thoroughly after cleaning your pets living areas and feces.
