Stronger Warning placed on Jalapeños

by MsMcReality | July 22, 2008 at 07:56 am

608 views | 0 Recommendations | 12 comments

Remember the whole tomatoe craze? Well, now there's a new craze regarding none other than jalapenos! Government inspectors found a trace of the same bacteria on a single jalapeno which prompted them to issue a stronger warning. Even though the traces exist on jalapenos, that still doesn't answer the question regardng where any salmonella outbreak originated. What's in question now is whether the jalapeno or the tomato is the cause of the salmonella. It may be one, the other or both! We're still not sure!

Still, "this genetic match is a very important break in the case," said Dr. David Acheson, the Food and Drug Administration's food safety chief.

Until such a theory has been proven, the FDA is warning that the average consumer should avoid fresh jalapenos, or any products (such as salsa) that is made from them... bad news for jalapeno lovers!

But a sign over Agricola Zaragoza's spot inside a huge produce warehouse Monday displayed pictures of tomatoes, onions and tomatillos alongside jalapeños - suggesting that the small vendor might have handled both major suspect items in the outbreak that has sickened 1,251 people.

In all honesty, to me, a simple sign seems rather ridiculous. It's like saying McDonald's has a picture of a tomato so they're responsible for the outbreak! But you never know, it could be one of the few places that actually imports jalapenos, I don't know. Again, that's just my opinion.

Just as is the disappointment with Jalapeno lovers, tomato producers are disappointed with this outbreak due to the fact that the estimated losses can reach a total of $250; and really, how can blame them?

But health officials maintain they had good evidence linking certain raw tomatoes to the outbreak in April and May, and that the jalapeño connection appeared only in June

The tainted pepper "is an important clue but the investigation is far from complete," said Caroline Smith DeWaal of the consumer advocacy Center for Science in the Public Interest, who described a maze of channels the FDA now must follow to determine where the contamination occurred.

Health officials are cautiously looking for clues. They also deemed this outbreak "unacceptable" considering the fact that there was only a 14 week period between the tomato outbreak and the finding of the tainted Jalapeno. Officials are relieved that there have been merely 14 cases since the finding of the tainted Jalapeno.

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singertenor

at 10:39 on July 22nd, 2008

This fresh jalapeño is from my friend's garden. Therefore, it is safe from the saminela threat.

singertenor has contributed a photo to this story.

MsMcReality

at 18:16 on July 22nd, 2008

Well that's good. I'm actually not a fan of jalapenos either way I thought the article was interesting though and thank you for your contribution!

arice1

at 10:46 on July 22nd, 2008

I grow my own Jalapenos as well as habaneros. I'm not worried about the outbreak.

arice1 has contributed a photo to this story.

MsMcReality

at 18:26 on July 22nd, 2008

Thank you for your contribution!

gubeedal

at 12:28 on July 22nd, 2008

I do the same. I grow my own tomatoes, jalapenos, banana peppers and bell peppers. The best way to avoid an outbreak is to be self sufficient!

bet112238

at 12:45 on July 22nd, 2008

The rumor that jalapenos grown in Mexico were not safe has been around for a long time but not taken seriously in our part of the U.S. Hopefully, the testing for salmonella will be more thorough in the future.

bet112238 has contributed a photo to this story.

MsMcReality

at 18:27 on July 22nd, 2008

We can only hope right? Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

potawie

at 16:03 on July 22nd, 2008

I'm glad I grow my own peppers and tomatoes

potawie has contributed a photo to this story.

buildababe

at 17:42 on July 22nd, 2008

I am a huge fan of peppers of all kinds, and I hate to see that the salmonella issue has extended to them as well. Salmonella in the water supply is the most likely cause of the problem, the source of that is what needs to be found. I grow my own veggies as i can but I also buy what I need. People need to be vigilant in cleaning routines when planning to eat raw veggies, just as one would be with meats.

buildababe has contributed a photo to this story.

René

at 17:45 on July 22nd, 2008

Loss only $250! Local produce less food-miles, riper, more nutritious. But, haven't done enuff damage yet, let's go after another crop.

MsMcReality

at 18:19 on July 22nd, 2008

lol that's pretty much what I said in my McDonald's reference. I love how they make it look professional when in reality it's ridiculous. So there was one Jalapeno tainted OH NO RUNAWAY! lol I'm just glad I don't care for Jalapenos