Salmonella update: Millions in profits lost as FDA continues searching for cause
Consumers take extra precautions as salmonella outbreak grows
10:29 a.m. Monday, July 7, 2008
As the salmonella outbreak continues across the country, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded its focus from just tomatoes to produce such as jalapeño peppers and cilantro.
"All of our conversations with people who have gotten ill, probably 80 percent have eaten tomatoes, so that's where the focus has been. However, we do want to make sure that there's not something else that may be associated with tomatoes," Texas Department of State Health Services Spokesperson Emily Palmer said.
The Chicago Department of Health has identified several cases of salmonella poisoning from people who ate at Mexican restaurants, leading them to widen the investigation to ingredients often found in salsa and guacamole. Officials have turned their focus to the critical points of the food chain. Imported produce is now being tested at border entry points and will not be distributed to consumers without FDA approval.
Related content
Salmonella linked to tomatoes sickens eight Kansans
Tomato business suffers while FDA explores other foods in salmonella probe
Salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes leads to larger food safety questions
With the number of reported cases of salmonella poisoning increasing, consumers are taking extra precautions.
"I always double wash everything even if it says washed twice," consumer Kimberly Doyle said.
Farmers and restaurants have been hit hard by the scare, with hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
With growing concern, health officials are stepping up the investigation/
"We have to get better at identifying outbreak sooner, preventing them in the first place, and then if a problem does occur we have to get better at responding more quickly," United Fresh Produce Association Spokeswoman Amy Philpott.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)