Are tomatoes a “dangerous product”?

Houston area grocery stores have started to cautiously restock tomatoes even as the FDA admits that it isn’t sure what caused the salmonella outbreak that has so far sickened 810 people in the United States.  The FDA is concerned that presumably safe tomatoes are being contaminated in packing sheds or other points along the distribution system, and that other food items could be the source of contamination.

Our area has seen its share of salmonella cases.  Since May, 15 Houston residents and 30 other Harris County residents have fallen ill with salmonella.  Early in June the first salmonella-linked death happened when a Houston cancer patient was sickened with salmonella.  In all, the Texas Department of State Health Services has reported that so far 342 Texans have become ill.

The CDC has stated that this is one of the largest salmonella outbreaks in the country that has been linked to fresh produce.  Like the FDA, the CDC believes that tomatoes are the most likely source but aren’t sold on the idea that they’re the only possible source.

If eating a common fruit can cause serious illness, we have to wonder – how safe is our food supply, really?  It is hard to think that the food we eat every day could potentially be considered a dangerous product.