[Ashley]

Salmonella found in Mexican-grown jalapenos Pepper in Texas plant offers clues to outbreak's source

The Associated Press
updated 12:56 p.m. MT, Mon., July. 21, 2008

WASHINGTON - U.S. government inspectors have found the same salmonella strain responsible for a food-poisoning outbreak in the U.S. in a Mexican-grown jalapeno pepper in a Texas plant, prompting a new warning for consumers to avoid eating fresh jalapenos.

The Food and Drug Administration called Monday's announcement a "very important break in the case."

But it doesn't mean Mexican jalapenos are the culprit — the pepper may not have been contaminated on the farm. And while tomatoes currently are safe to eat, health officials also said the finding does not exonerate tomatoes that were sold earlier in the year.

The infected pepper was found in a produce center in McAllen, Texas.
The recent outbreak has sickened 1,251 people in 43 states and killed two. The first person diagnosed fell ill on April 10 and the latest so far on July 4.
There are signs that the outbreak is slowing, said Dr. Robert Tauxe of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC charted the dates when the ill say they fell sick. Between April and mid-May, illnesses steadily rose. Between May 20 and June 10, the outbreak hit a plateau, with about 33 people a day becoming ill. From June 11 to June 20, that dropped to 19 people a day becoming ill.

Those are the latest available statistics, because it can take two weeks or longer for the CDC to receive confirmation that someone who is sick actually has the implicated salmonella strain.

SOURCE

[La_Mari]

I've heard of McAllen. I hope they find all the sources soon. I'm hungry.

[WhitneyF]

I'm glad they're starting to narrow it down, but honestly, if our government was smart they would keep better tabs on our produce to begin with. But on a side note and not meaning to get us too far off subject... Has anyone else noticed little local tomato stands popping up down their streets and highways? I think it's kind of awesome.

[daer0n]

Good thing im growing my own LOL.

[Adrienne]

Originally Posted by daer0n

Good thing im growing my own LOL.

LOL I know!