Just Say "No" To Certain Tomatoes

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Tomatoes are no longer a choice on Subway Sandwiches, in Sulphur Springs, the locally owned
restaurant voluntarily removed tomatoes from their menu, late last week.

 

The first victim of what may have been consumption of fresh tomato products has died in the state of Texas and over 165 incidents of illness have been reported of what has become a 17-state salmonella outbreak. Many local and nationwide chains have removed tomatoes from their menus and produce counters. The particular varieties of tomatoes affected by the outbreak include: red plum tomatoes, red Roma tomatoes, and round red tomatoes.

The possible related death is alleged from a cancer victim who went to celebrate a successful cancer treatment and ate Mexican food that included pico made from fresh tomatoes.

"We voluntarily took tomatoes off our menu on Thursday of last week," advised the manager of the local Subway Sandwich Shop, located on Broadway Street. "We certainly didn't want anyone to become ill and it is just better to remove the product, rather than to take any chances!"

 

"We only sell 'hot-house' tomotoes and they aren't affected by the salmonella outbreak," advised Barry Halcomb, Manager of the local Brookshires store.

A visit with the local Walmart store found that they are selling no sliced tomatoes or individual Roma tomatoes, however, they are still selling hot-house, vine tomatoes, and packaged Roma tomatoes, that have not been affected by the outbreak.

 

The local McDonald's restaurant advised that they had removed tomatoes from their menu until the outbreak sources are found.

Other stores and restaurants in Hopkins County are using caution and removing tomatoes from their menus, to make certain that no one is affected by this outbreak.

 

"We just want to be on the safe side and to make certain that our customers remain safe," advised one local restaurant owner. "It is a small price to pay, to remove them from the menu, until the source of the outbreak is found, and to keep everyone healthy!"

 

 

According to local County Consumer Science Agent, Johanna Hicks, for further instructions regarding the consumption of tomatoes you can go to the FDA website at www.cfsan.FDA.gov/~dms/tomatqa.html and get the latest information on the outbreak and guidelines for consumption.

"This is an excellent source to refer to when seeking information about the consumption of tomatoes," exclaimed Hicks. "It will be updated regularly and will include the latest information on the outbreak, including symptoms of salmonella poisoning.

FDA advises that the traditional "homegrown" tomatoes that we are so fond of, here in East Texas, pose no threat to health and are at no greater risk than normal.

 

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