[StBernard] DSCP Alert 001-2008 FDA Warns Consumers Nationwide Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes

[Westley Annis]

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) Consumer Safety Office (CSO)
is releasing the following notice.  

FDA has posted a Consumer Warning, not a recall, for certain types of raw
tomatoes. For a complete and updated listing of suspected products see:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html
<http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html> . DSCP CSO will not
provide further updates for this consumer warning, please refer to the FDA
web link. Once the FDA's investigation is complete, if warranted, the CSO
will initiate an ALFOODACT.

DSCP Alert 001-2008 FDA Warns Consumers Nationwide Not to Eat Certain Types
of Raw Red Tomatoes 

DSCP Issue Date: June 10, 2008 

FDA Warns Consumers Nationwide Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes

The Food and Drug Administration is expanding its warning to consumers
nationwide that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of
certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products
containing these raw, red tomatoes.

FDA recommends that consumers not eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red
round tomatoes, or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes
unless the tomatoes are from the sources listed below. If unsure of where
tomatoes are grown or harvested, consumers are encouraged to contact the
store where the tomato purchase was made. Consumers should continue to eat
cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still
attached, or tomatoes grown at home.

On June 5, using traceback and other distribution pattern information, FDA
published a list of states, territories, and countries where tomatoes are
grown and harvested which have not been associated with this outbreak. This
updated list includes: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican
Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. The list is
available at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html#retailers
<http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html> . This list will be
updated by FDA as more information becomes available.

FDA's recommendation does not apply to the following tomatoes from any
source: cherry, grape, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached.

FDA recommends that retailers, restaurateurs, and food service operators not
offer for sale and service raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round
tomatoes unless they are from the sources listed above. Cherry tomatoes,
grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, may continue
to be offered from any source. 

Since mid April, there have been 145 reported cases of salmonellosis caused
by Salmonella Saintpaul nationwide, including at least 23 hospitalizations.
States reporting illnesses linked to the outbreak include: Arizona,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Salmonella Saintpaul is an uncommon type of Salmonella. 

FDA recognizes that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited
to a single grower or packer or tomatoes from a specific geographic area.
FDA also recognizes that there are many tomato crops across the country and
in foreign countries that will be ready for harvest or will become ready in
the coming months. In order to ensure that consumers can continue to enjoy
tomatoes that are safe to eat, FDA is working diligently with the states,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian Health Service,
and various food industry trade associations to quickly determine the source
of the tomatoes associated with the outbreak. 

FDA is taking these actions while the agency continues to investigate this
outbreak with state and federal partners. Such actions are a key component
of FDA's Food Protection Plan
<http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/advance/food.html> , a scientific and
risk-based approach to strengthen and protect the nation's food supply.

FDA will continue to issue updates as more specific information becomes
available. 
Tomato consumer page can be found at
www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html
<http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html>
Updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found at
www.cdc.gov/ <http://www.cdc.gov/> DSCP INSTRUCTIONS: 

(1) Secure in a "Medical Hold" status to provide assurance of no further
issue/sale/use of the item and return to vendor.

(2) This correspondence acts as a Consumer Warning not to eat certain types
of raw red tomatoes. For a complete and updated listing of suspected
products see: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html
<http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html> . DSCP CSO will not
provide further updates for this consumer warning, please refer to the FDA
web link. Once the FDA's investigation is complete, if warranted, the CSO
will initiate an ALFOODACT.

(3) The Point Of Contact for this alert notice is CW4 Ramona Hemphill,
Consumer Safety Officer, at DSCP-FTW. VOICE, DSN: 444-2905. Commercial (215)
737-2905, or by FAX, DSN: 444-7526, or Commercial, (215) 737-7526.

     
     Any individual or office that would like to receive alert and recall
messages electronically can forward their email address to
dscpconssafofc at dla.mil <mailto:dscpconssafofc at dla.mil> 

Previous recalls and frequently asked questions are available at the
following web site: http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/fso/alfood/alfood.asp
<http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/fso/alfood/alfood.asp> 

The navigation tool to the left allows you to view DSCP Alerts and Archived
Vendor Recalls also. 

Very Respectfully,

\\SIGNED\\
Mrs. Ramona Hemphill
CW4 Ramona Hemphill
Consumer Safety Officer, DSCP
Food Safety Office

Approved.