Red Plum/Red Roma tomatoes implicated in outbreak. Credit: FDA

WEDNESDAY July 2, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated  the ongoing salmonella outbreak on June 1 saying that the outbreak has resulted in 869 cases of illness and 107 hospitalizations.

 The cases of salmonella illness were reported in 36 states and the District of Columbia including Arkansas (10 persons), Arizona (41), California (10), Colorado (11), Connecticut (4), Florida (1), Georgia (20), Idaho (3), Illinois (91), Indiana (11), Kansas (14), Kentucky (1), Maine (1), Maryland (29), Massachusetts (21), Michigan (6), Minnesota (2), Missouri (12), New Hampshire (3), Nevada (11), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (90), New York (26), North Carolina (5), Ohio (7), Oklahoma (23), Oregon (10), Pennsylvania (8), Rhode Island (3), Tennessee (6), Texas (346), Utah (2), Virginia (22), Vermont (2), Washington (4), Wisconsin (6), and the District of Columbia (1).

Both the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are still investigating the source of the outbreak also officials have become increasingly frustrated.

The FDA announced it began looking at food items normally served with tomatoes suspecting that other food may cause the outbreak.   But the agency did not say what specific food items it is investigating.

Red round tomatoes implicated in outbreak. Credit FDA

"It would be irresponsible of us at this point to say where we are expanding the testing," Dr. David Acheson, one of the FDA top food safety agents was quoted by healthday.com as saying. "I'm not prepared to discuss what those items might be."

THE CDC also acknowledged on Friday that the agency is no longer certain that the outbreak was due to consumption of tainted tomatoes or other food.

Dr. Robert Tauxe, a top official at the CDC, said at the teleconference cited by healthday.com that his agency is now focusing on the 179 people who have fallen ill since June 1.  But he did not explain why.

FDA officials said raw red tomatoes are still the prime suspect and their advice on tomatoes consumption issued early remains valid that consumers should not eat raw red plum, Roma and round tomatoes. These types of tomatoes have a history of being involved in salmonella outbreak.

Salmonella illness is common, but rarely causes any death. It is more of a risk for young children, the elderly and those with their immune system compromised.   Healthy people get over with the condition in a few days without any medical intervention.