Orange County Register

June 13 update: Nine victims in the salmonella outbreak ate tomatoes at two restaurants that are part of the same chain, Bloomberg news is reporting. FDA, as of Friday, continues to look at parts of Florida and Mexico as possible source of contamination.

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The number of people who have come down with a rare strain of salmonella tied to contaminated tomatoes has widened to 228 illnesses in 23 states, federal health authorities said this afternoon.

Previously, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 167 people have become sick eating raw large tomatoes, red Roma or red plum tomatoes. Now that number has expanded, with more illnesses reported in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont, the CDC said in a press conference today.

Dr. David Acheson, an official with the Food and Drug Administration, said the agency has not yet pinpointed the source of the outbreak. Various lab workers across the country have been working to find the source of the contaminated tomatoes, including microbiologists at the FDA’s bureau in Irvine.

Acheson said U.S. health authorities are talking to representatives of the tomato industry in Mexico, a large U.S. supplier of tomatoes this time of year.

The agency has not yet ruled out Mexico or Baja Mexico as a source of the outbreak. However, the region is not necessarily the source of the contaminated tomatoes, Acheson cautioned.

In the meantime, Acheson looked to calm consumer and retailer fears about eating tomatoes.

“Clearly we are hearing sectors of the industry that are destroying tomatoes,” Acheson said. “I want to emphasize that there are many tomatoes out in the market that are perfectly safe.”

Those tomatoes include all types grown in California and parts of Florida. For all states cleared, see the FDA site. Also safe to eat: cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes with the vine still attached.

Still, if a consumer doesn’t know where the tomato was grown, Acheson said don’t buy it or eat it.

No deaths have been reported. However, in Texas, a man with cancer died this week. Officials say he had the same deadly salmonella strain, which “may have contributed to his death.”

The outbreak is considered ongoing. The dates people got sick range from April 10 to June 1.

Related stories:

• Burger King begins restocking tomatoes Thursday
• California produce safe, but demand is surging prompting price surge
• LIST: OC restaurant/markets that have pulled tomatoes
• Food borne illnesses tied to tomatoes under federal investigation
• Salmonella Q&A: How you get it, and symptoms.
• Southern California retailers, restaurants pull tomatoes from produce aisles
• Victims ate tomatoes at home, and at restaurants, authorities say. (LAT)

Consumer tips:

• Information on safe handling of produce can be found at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodsafe.html.
• Tomato consumer page can be found at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html
• Latest Salmonella updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including map of multi-state outbreak

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