Shop at a local grocery store these days it is hard to find a tomato. Most tomatoes are being or have been pulled off the shelf at local grocery stores because of the most recent outbreak of Salmonella infection across 17 states.
The scare has affected the fast food restaurants the most. McDonalds, Burger King, Wawa, and Wendy’s to name a few have stopped serving sliced tomatoes on their menu fare. But not all tomatoes have been identified as being potentially dangerous.
Thought to be safe are cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes, and tomatoes with the vine still attached, or ‘vine ripened’ tomatoes. Still, more often than not, all tomatoes have been removed from store shelves as a precaution.
What is Salmonella?
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases states, “Salmonella is the name of a group of bacteria. In the United States, it is the most common cause of foodborne illness. Salmonella occurs in raw poultry, eggs, beef, and sometimes on unwashed fruit and vegetables.
“Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and headache. Symptoms usually last 4 – 7 days. Most people get better without treatment. It can be more serious in the elderly, infants and people with chronic conditions. If Salmonella gets into the bloodstream, it can be serious, or even life-threatening. The usual treatment is antibiotics.”
In certain cases, people have been know to contract the disease by handling reptiles like pet snakes, turtles and lizards.
Residents of Southern Maryland may take heart. It is that time of year when a great deal of local farmers begin selling fresh tomatoes and other vegetables and fruit. These have been identified as safe in every variety. The only precaution one needs is to wash fresh frit and vegetables thoroughly before serving raw.
In local grocery stores, those displaying the So Maryland So Good logo next to tomatoes are assured of having disease-free tomatoes. Cooking fresh vegetables and fruits eliminates the Salmonella bacteria entirely. So, that home made spaghetti sauce is safe in case.