Local Stores, Restaurants Deal With Salmonella News

By Melissa Mcever, Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas

Jun. 5–Some local stores have pulled tomatoes from their shelves or posted signs warning customers to wash produce thoroughly, following fears that raw tomatoes could be contaminated with salmonella.

Restaurants and stores say they’re awaiting more information, and that they doubt their tomato supply is affected.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating a multi-state outbreak of illness caused by the Saintpaul strain of salmonella bacteria. It suspects raw tomatoes, particularly Roma and red round, are to blame.

As of Wednesday, 24 cases of salmonellosis related to the Saintpaul strain were confirmed in Texas, including one case in Cameron County.

On Tuesday, H-E-B stores throughout Texas pulled all Roma and salad tomatoes from store shelves. The stores were expected to have restocked shelves by late Wednesday with vine-ripened tomatoes, which health officials have said are safe, spokeswoman Dya Campos said.

Employees at El Globo Supermarket in San Benito posted signs informing customers of the concerns about Roma and red round tomatoes. The store will recall tomatoes if the state health department calls for it, manager Rigo Garza said.

Some restaurant managers said they hadn’t heard about the salmonella outbreak as of Wednesday, but after learning of DSHS’ announcement, asked their produce suppliers about it.

At La Playa Restaurant in Harlingen, raw tomatoes are rarely served, and the ones that are served are unlikely to be contaminated, said manager Joe Rodriguez.

“Our produce (supplier) says the contaminated tomatoes are coming from Mexico … and ours are from Florida,” Rodriguez said.

Although Texas health officials say they haven’t pinpointed the source of the salmonella infections, a New Mexico health official told the Albuquerque Journal Tuesday that tomatoes imported from Mexico could be the culprit.

Whataburger restaurants will continue to serve tomatoes on hamburgers because their tomatoes aren’t Roma or red round, spokeswoman Pam Cox said.

The CDC recommended Wednesday that consumers in Texas and New Mexico eat cherry, grape or vine-ripened tomatoes.

Salmonella infection can cause headache, stomach pain, diarrhea and nausea, according to DSHS. Most people recover without treatment.

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