The following article was written for the Alamogordo Daily News (to be published by them on their new blog):

57 people in New Mexico (33 persons) and Texas (24 persons), from age 3 to 82, have been reported sick from eating uncooked tomatoes since April this year.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 17 people in these two states have been hospitalized due to Salmonella, but fortunately none have died.  In addition, 29 people in other states have been reported ill with Salmonella.  Raw large tomatoes such as Roma and red round tomatoes seem to be culprits here, but no specific source has been identified yet.

 

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or other animals.  The symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection.  Infants, elderly persons and those with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to contract more serious illness.  According to World Health Organization, millions of human cases are reported worldwide every year and Salmonella caused thousands of deaths if not treated in time.

 

I suggest avoiding eating raw food altogether.  There is always a chance of cross contamination and proliferation of Salmonella in restaurants or at home.  How many of you wash vegetables and fruit in produce-only sinks and cut them with produce-only knife and cutting board?  How many of you wear gloves to prepare food in restaurants or for pot-luck meals?  How many of you store the cut tomatoes below 41°F, which is the recommended maximum temperature by FDA?  I guess not many people in Alamogordo actually follow these practices.

 

Salmonella outbreak is not new because there is always a risk of eating raw vegetables, fruit, seafood and meat.  Contaminated food do not limit to only tomatoes.  Beef, poultry, milk and eggs can carry Salmonella.  Many chicks and young birds can carry Salmonella in their feces.  Reptiles such as snakes and turtles are also likely to harbor Salmonella.  

 

The key to protecting our health is to wash hands thoroughly with soap after handling reptiles, birds, pet feces or raw food; avoid eating raw food; and disinfect kitchen work surfaces and utensils after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry if there are no separate work areas for produce and raw meat/poultry.

 

Tomatoes are not bad for us.  They may have become scapegoats, but they carry an important message for all of us – be careful in our handling of food and do not patronize restaurants that do not seem to follow health regulations.

 

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