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Eurofresh products safe in Salmonella outbreak
By Ainslee S. Wittig, Carol Broeder, & Dana Cole/Wick Communications
Concerns about a recent salmonella outbreak have caused several Arizona restaurants to stop serving fresh tomatoes. Health officials say that a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul is linked to eating certain varieties of uncooked tomatoes including red plum, red Roma and red round.
The source of the tomatoes responsible for the illnesses in at least 16 states has not been pinpointed. In a recent update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says at least 23 people have been hospitalized with the food poisoning, but no deaths have been reported.
To date, 12 cases have been reported in Arizona. None of those are from Cochise County.
"There have been four cases in Apache County, one in Coconino County, four in Maricopa County, one in Navajo, one in Pima and one of the cases is unknown," said Janey Pearl, spokeswoman from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Several restaurant chains have pulled tomatoes from their menus. McDonald's Corp., Taco Bell Corp., Texas Roadhouse, Applebee's, El Paso Grill and Bar-B-Que, Outback Steakhouse and Burger King are some of the chains no longer serving tomatoes.
While the illnesses have been linked to Roma, red round and plum tomatoes, the source of the outbreak has not been determined. ADHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are continuing to investigate the outbreak.
Tomatoes that have not been implicated in the outbreak include cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and tomatoes grown at home.
Willcox greenhouse tomato grower, Eurofresh Farms, Inc., CEO Dwight Ferguson said, "All Eurofresh tomatoes are sold attached to the vine, other than the grape tomato variety, 'Bella Bites. All of our products are safe and we have continued to supply local groceries and everyone we normally supply."
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are also recommending that retailers, restaurateurs and food service operators continue to offer those varieties.
Eurofresh is closely following recently reported cases of Salmonella originating in New Mexico, he said.
TOVs (Tomatoes On the Vine) are the only common products Eurofresh has shipped to customers in New Mexico, CDC officials said.
While investigations continue, the company wants to assure the public that "consumer safety and product quality is our top priority at Eurofresh, which is why we adhere to some of the most stringent food handling practices in our industry," Ferguson said.
"Eurofresh Farms has never experienced any reported food-bourn illnesses in the company's 16-year history. We attribute this to our stringent standards as a greenhouse grower. We completely control the environment in which our products are propagated, nurtured and handled. As the major source of contamination of any produce is often associated with human or animal feces or other fertilization, we virtually eliminate this potential with the use of targeted methods that provide nutrients directly to our products. We monitor, document and analyze all contact and water sources to ensure that purest produce," Ferguson said.
USDA Commodities from the Community Food Bank in Tucson will be given out on Thursday, June 26, from 9 a.m. until noon at the United Methodist Church patio.
Eurofresh Farms is the current supplier of tomatoes to the Community Food Bank.
"Eurofresh has assured the Food Bank that their tomatoes are not contaminated with the salmonella infection that has been reported recently in the national and local media," said Jack Parris, public relations manager at the Community Food Bank. "Eurofresh is the sole supplier of tomatoes to the Food Bank at this time."
The Community Food Bank distributes fresh produce, including Eurofresh Farms tomatoes through our Tucson's Table, TEFAP-Emergency Food Box, Food Plus and Value Foods Store programs.
Eurofresh will continue to carefully monitor and control all contact with its product, from inception to final delivery to our customers, said Ferguson.
"Please be assured that we will continue to watch this investigation closely and keep you abreast of any new developments. We thank you for your business with Eurofresh Farms, and look forward to continued success," he added.
Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.
"We're recommending that anyone with symptoms of diarrhea, fever and stomach pain, see a doctor and get tested for salmonella," Pearl said. All salmonella infections should be reported to state or local health authorities. As salmonella cases are identified, health officials will interview the patient, test the patient and tomato samples and coordinate with federal and state agencies to attempt to determine the source and kind of tomato involved.
TIPS AND PRECAUTIONS
Tomatoes can be eaten safely, just so long as they are thoroughly washed under running water, said Karla Jensen, spokeswoman for Cochise County Health Department. In addition, vegetable washes can be purchased at grocery stores. Health officials are advising against using bruised tomatoes, as a break in the skin could allow salmonella to get trapped in the damaged area. Discard all tomatoes that appear spoiled. Keep raw tomatoes separate from other raw food products such as meats, seafood and produce. All cut, peeled or cooked tomatoes should be refrigerated within two hours. Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between different kinds of food.
Frequent hand washing with soap and warm water is another important precaution health officials are recommending.
Until the source is determined, ADHS and CDC are recommending the following precautions:
€ Persons with increased risk of severe infection, including infants, elderly persons and those with impaired immune systems, should not eat raw Roma, red round or plum tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home.
€ Persons who want to reduce their risk of salmonella infection should avoid consuming raw Roma, red round or plum tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
The source of the tomatoes responsible for the illnesses in at least 16 states has not been pinpointed. In a recent update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says at least 23 people have been hospitalized with the food poisoning, but no deaths have been reported.
To date, 12 cases have been reported in Arizona. None of those are from Cochise County.
"There have been four cases in Apache County, one in Coconino County, four in Maricopa County, one in Navajo, one in Pima and one of the cases is unknown," said Janey Pearl, spokeswoman from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Several restaurant chains have pulled tomatoes from their menus. McDonald's Corp., Taco Bell Corp., Texas Roadhouse, Applebee's, El Paso Grill and Bar-B-Que, Outback Steakhouse and Burger King are some of the chains no longer serving tomatoes.
While the illnesses have been linked to Roma, red round and plum tomatoes, the source of the outbreak has not been determined. ADHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are continuing to investigate the outbreak.
Tomatoes that have not been implicated in the outbreak include cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and tomatoes grown at home.
Willcox greenhouse tomato grower, Eurofresh Farms, Inc., CEO Dwight Ferguson said, "All Eurofresh tomatoes are sold attached to the vine, other than the grape tomato variety, 'Bella Bites. All of our products are safe and we have continued to supply local groceries and everyone we normally supply."
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are also recommending that retailers, restaurateurs and food service operators continue to offer those varieties.
Eurofresh is closely following recently reported cases of Salmonella originating in New Mexico, he said.
TOVs (Tomatoes On the Vine) are the only common products Eurofresh has shipped to customers in New Mexico, CDC officials said.
While investigations continue, the company wants to assure the public that "consumer safety and product quality is our top priority at Eurofresh, which is why we adhere to some of the most stringent food handling practices in our industry," Ferguson said.
"Eurofresh Farms has never experienced any reported food-bourn illnesses in the company's 16-year history. We attribute this to our stringent standards as a greenhouse grower. We completely control the environment in which our products are propagated, nurtured and handled. As the major source of contamination of any produce is often associated with human or animal feces or other fertilization, we virtually eliminate this potential with the use of targeted methods that provide nutrients directly to our products. We monitor, document and analyze all contact and water sources to ensure that purest produce," Ferguson said.
USDA Commodities from the Community Food Bank in Tucson will be given out on Thursday, June 26, from 9 a.m. until noon at the United Methodist Church patio.
Eurofresh Farms is the current supplier of tomatoes to the Community Food Bank.
"Eurofresh has assured the Food Bank that their tomatoes are not contaminated with the salmonella infection that has been reported recently in the national and local media," said Jack Parris, public relations manager at the Community Food Bank. "Eurofresh is the sole supplier of tomatoes to the Food Bank at this time."
The Community Food Bank distributes fresh produce, including Eurofresh Farms tomatoes through our Tucson's Table, TEFAP-Emergency Food Box, Food Plus and Value Foods Store programs.
Eurofresh will continue to carefully monitor and control all contact with its product, from inception to final delivery to our customers, said Ferguson.
"Please be assured that we will continue to watch this investigation closely and keep you abreast of any new developments. We thank you for your business with Eurofresh Farms, and look forward to continued success," he added.
Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.
"We're recommending that anyone with symptoms of diarrhea, fever and stomach pain, see a doctor and get tested for salmonella," Pearl said. All salmonella infections should be reported to state or local health authorities. As salmonella cases are identified, health officials will interview the patient, test the patient and tomato samples and coordinate with federal and state agencies to attempt to determine the source and kind of tomato involved.
TIPS AND PRECAUTIONS
Tomatoes can be eaten safely, just so long as they are thoroughly washed under running water, said Karla Jensen, spokeswoman for Cochise County Health Department. In addition, vegetable washes can be purchased at grocery stores. Health officials are advising against using bruised tomatoes, as a break in the skin could allow salmonella to get trapped in the damaged area. Discard all tomatoes that appear spoiled. Keep raw tomatoes separate from other raw food products such as meats, seafood and produce. All cut, peeled or cooked tomatoes should be refrigerated within two hours. Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between different kinds of food.
Frequent hand washing with soap and warm water is another important precaution health officials are recommending.
Until the source is determined, ADHS and CDC are recommending the following precautions:
€ Persons with increased risk of severe infection, including infants, elderly persons and those with impaired immune systems, should not eat raw Roma, red round or plum tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home.
€ Persons who want to reduce their risk of salmonella infection should avoid consuming raw Roma, red round or plum tomatoes other than those sold attached to the vine or grown at home.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
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