Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes?

Salmonella contaminated tomatoes seems to be the big scare lately. Last time it was e coli spinach. Spinach was an easy fix for most people because it’s more of an optional food when it comes to your average meal. Tomatoes are a different story though. Tomatoes are in everything, Pizza, salsa, salad and just about every other thing in between. It has a lot of people scared and wondering what to do. Can I eat raw tomatoes? Do I have to cook them? Are ALL tomatoes unsafe? There are just so many questions when it comes to food scares like this. U.S. News & World Report published a good article that just about answers all of your questions. Here are a few and the link to the article.

Are canned tomatoes and processed foods containing tomatoes safe for consumers during this outbreak?

Consumers may continue to buy and eat canned (that is, processed) red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes and canned or bottled foods containing these or other types of tomatoes if they were processed by a commercial food-processing facility. A few examples are the canned tomatoes and canned or bottled tomato juice and spaghetti sauce found in grocery stores.

What kinds of tomatoes should be avoided during this outbreak?

At this time, consumers should avoid eating or handling raw red plum, raw red Roma, and raw red round tomatoes. If consumers already have these kinds of tomatoes in their homes and are unsure where they were grown or harvested, they are encouraged to contact the store where they bought the tomatoes. Check the link on the FDA Web site often, because it’s updating regions of the country that get ruled out as the sources of the outbreak.

How to Have Your Tomatoes, and Eat Them, Too

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