The current Salmonella outbreak is still under investigation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the warning that has been in place since June 7, which states that consumers should avoid certain types of fresh tomatoes due to a potential connection to the Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak. Consumers may now enjoy all types of fresh tomatoes, including raw red plum, raw red Roma and raw red round tomatoes.
However, new guidance is in effect. "FDA is also asking consumers to avoid eating raw jalapeno peppers or foods made from raw jalapeno peppers until further notice in order to prevent additional cases of illness. This recommendation does not include cooked or pickled jalapeno peppers. FDA is continuing to advise that people in high risk populations, such as elderly persons, infants and people with impaired immune systems, avoid eating raw serrano peppers or food made from raw serrano peppers until further notice."
Given this current information, what should consumers do to enhance the safety of the food we eat?
Food safety expert Julie Jones, PhD, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science and Endowed Chair in Science - Family, Consumer and Nutrition Specialist, College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN provides the following advice. "All food, no matter how safe it might seem, can be a source of foodborne disease. Thus the old rules are ever more important. Keep hot food hot; keep cold food cold. This is important any time of year, but in hot weather when microorganisms double their numbers in very short time and there is the tendency to have food out for picnics and buffets, a special reminder is in order. The other watchword is CLEAN - impeccably clean hands and clean surfaces - everything that touches the food utensils etc should be clean. Fruits and vegetables come from the soil, which of course is not clean. They need to be washed well. This is especially important as they are often served raw."
Following FDA's current advice as well the FightBAC! steps (clean, separate, cook, chill) can help all consumers keep safe foods safe to eat.
For more food safety tips visit:
http://www.ific.org/publications/other/summerfoodsafetytips.cfm
For more information about Salmonella, visit the IFIC Foundation's Consumer's Guide to Food Safety Risks.
For produce handling resources for consumers, visit the Partnership for Food Safety Education at: http://www.fightbac.org/content/view/203
For detailed information regarding the current Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration web site at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html.
For more information about Salmonella Saintpaul, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/
