Tomato FDA Consumer Advisory

The Food Drug and Alcohol Administration has issued an advisory about the consumption of roma tomatoes and raw red round tomatoes. Some of you may know romas as "plum" or "paste" tomatoes - they are the ones you'll find in Olive Garden salads.

Well, however you know your tomatoes, the FDA is saying that you should only eat roma and raw red round tomatoes produced in the following areas: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. There have been 145 known cases of salmonella connected to roma and/or raw red round tomatoes since the middle of April. Additionally, because this situation, there have been at least 23 hospitalizations.

When they advise against the raw red round tomatoes, they are talking about the ones you might use on a sandwich - the larger ones. Not included in the advisory are cherry, grape, and tomatoes sold with attached vines. Of course, the ones in your own garden are fine to use even if you are in a ban state. Unless there is something you might or might not want to share with the class about your own personal hygiene.

If you'd like to read the FDA Consumer warning about this subject, please click on the picture of the roma tomatoes. Who knows - maybe there has been an update since I posted this. Just remember to come back to visit.