Jalapenos may be Salmonella culprit

Jalapenos may be Salmonella culprit

Salsa ingredients and tomatoes could be illness link

The government has begun looking at jalapeno peppers and other ingredients used to make salsa, such as cilantro and Serrano peppers along with tomatoes as a possible cause of the record salmonella outbreak. Officials have said some patients have told the Centers for Disease Control 

Jalapenos are joining tomatoes in the investigation into the salmonella outbreak.

and Prevention they ate raw tomatoes in fresh salsa and guacamole.

As of Friday evening, 943 persons infected with salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint have been identified in 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.

Government health investigators with the Food and Drug Administration had initially focused on some types of fresh tomatoes, which have been removed from menus across the country, but are turning toward jalapenos as cases continue.

"Recently, many clusters of illnesses have been identified in Texas and other states among persons who ate at restaurants," according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statement. "These clusters have led us to broaden the investigation to be sure that it encompasses food items that are commonly consumed with tomatoes."

Among the possibilities FDA has said it was exploring is whether tomatoes and other produce are sharing a common packing or shipping site where both might become contaminated, or whether multiple foods might be tainted while being grown on adjoining farms or with common water sources.

The U.S. tomato industry has taken a $100 million hit as restaurants temporarily dropped tomatoes from their menus, and farmers have had to plow under their fields or leave crops to rot in packing houses.