July 7, 2008

 

SALMONELLA CASES REACH 1065, INVESTIGATION EXPANDING TO OTHER PRODUCE

Updated July 10, 2008 - 4:00 p.m.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is continuing its traceback to determine the source of an outbreak of salmonella saintpaul possibly linked to certain fresh tomatoes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late July 9 that since April, 1065 persons infected with Salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint have been identified in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.

The CDC recently added the following paragraph to its Web site:

Recently, many clusters of illnesses have been identified in several states among persons who ate at restaurants. Most clusters involve fewer than 5 ill persons. Three larger clusters have been intensively investigated. In one, illnesses were linked to consumption of an item containing fresh tomatoes and fresh jalapeño peppers. In the other two, illnesses were linked to an item containing fresh jalapeño peppers and no other of the suspect items. The accumulated data from all investigations indicate that jalapeño peppers caused some illnesses but that they do not explain all illnesses. Raw tomatoes, fresh serrano peppers, and fresh cilantro also remain under investigation. Investigators from many agencies are collaborating to track the source of the implicated peppers and other produce items.


Additional resources:

Florida Tomato Committee

Produce Marketing Association

United Fresh

FDA

CDC

Fla. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services


ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S RAP-UP

(Members-Only articles are indicated in bold.)
 
SALMONELLA CASES REACH 943, INVESTIGATION EXPANDING TO OTHER PRODUCE
 
GOV. CRIST SIGNS FARM EQUIPMENT LEGISLATION INTO LAW
 
DEP TO CHANGE OPEN BURNING LAW
 
FFVA JOINS COURT CHALLENGE TO AMENDMENT 5
 
GOV. CRIST SIGNS CONSERVATION BILLS
 
WAL-MART ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT TO FEATURE MORE LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE
 
SEE WATER LINES BULLETIN FOR IMPORTANT REGULATORY UPDATES