Yes, We Have No Tomatoes
Salmonella outbreak results in withdrawal of some varieties
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Originally published 01:32 p.m., June 10, 2008
Updated 01:32 p.m., June 10, 2008
Several Emporia grocery stores and restaurants are reporting that they have pulled certain varieties of tomatoes from their shelves and menus in light of the salmonella outbreak associated with the varieties.
Restaurants locally and around the country are pulling tomatoes that have been associated with the outbreak including certain raw red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes. The Centers for Disease Control stated on its web site that cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached from any source are safe.
Since mid-April, 167 people have been infected with Salmonella saintpaul after eating raw tomatoes. This is a fairly uncommon strain of salmonella, according to the CDC. The outbreak has been found in 17 states including Kansas. Kansas has reported five cases of the outbreak.
The CDC is recommending that consumers limit their consumption of raw tomatoes to varieties that are not associated with the outbreak and should be careful with products containing tomatoes such as salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo. At least 23 people have been hospitalized nationally, but no deaths have been reported.
Wal-Mart is among the local grocery stores pulling the tomatoes listed in the recall. Randy Heavener, manager of the Emporia store, said this morning that Wal-Mart has pulled some of the varieties.
“Did have some of those tomatoes,” Heavener said. “We pulled all of our Roma tomatoes just to make sure we were safe. Some floor pack tomatoes were in there as well.”
Heavener said that Wal-Mart does have un-affected varieties available.
“We do still have some tomatoes that are OK that we are selling,” he said. “We have some of the grape tomatoes and also have some vine tomatoes that weren’t on the recall.”
Other local stores and restaurants are reporting pulling the tomatoes as well. Sonic, McDonalds and Burger King have pulled theirs. Burger King has a sign on the drive-through window stating that tomatoes are not available at this time and they hope to have them back soon.
The Country Mart stores and Price Chopper in Emporia reported this morning that the tomatoes they have in the stores are safe. They cannot stock the affected varieties of tomato because the warehouse that supplies the stores has quit shipping them. Kroger Co., the national chain that owns Dillon’s, has also pulled the tomatoes.
Comments
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Posted by rmbcollege (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All the fast food resturants have pulled the tomatoes. Not only in Emporia but also in Topeka as well.
Posted by traceygraham (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not only Emporia and Topeka, but nationwide.
It's possible we'll never know where the initial contamination began. When large volumes of any type of food are brought into gigantic processing facilities from numerous sources, all it takes is contamination at one of those sources to affect the entire processing plant.
The solution for the individual consumer:
1) Grow your own; or
2) Buy locally! Getting your produce at the Farmers' Market means you can "Know Your Farmer - Know Your Food". You're also getting the freshest possible produce, which not only tastes better, but also is higher in nutrition than produce picked in Florida weeks ago, shipped to a processing plant, then to a distribution center, then to the store.
Posted by DJrocksthemic (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They didn't catch it soon enough, as I managed to get what we'll call a rotten tomatoe, no fun at all really.
Posted by bellabrooke (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course we know where the initial contamination begins....
Posted by TacoBellB (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bella - if you know where the initial contamination begins, please share that with the FDA since they have yet to locate it.
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