By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced Tuesday that the state would be included in those reporting cases of salmonella poisoning, reportedly from consumption of raw red Roma, red plum and red round tomatoes.
"MDA is working in close cooperation with its federal food safety partners to advise Michigan's food industry and consumers to take necessary precautions regarding certain fresh tomatoes," Don Koivisto, MDA director said in a press release. "We are committed to ensuring that the food Michigan consumers are eating – whether at home or when dining out – is safe."
The Associated Press reports two cases of poisoning were found within the state and that some fast food restaurants and larger grocers including Wal-Mart, Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Outback Steakhouse, have voluntarily pulled such tomatoes from their shelves and menus for the time being.
The Food and Drug Administration is still trying to locate the source of the outbreak. But local grocers seem relatively confident in their tomato supply.
The threat, "depends on the distributor and where you're getting them from," said Jim Krenpetz of Martin's Supermarkets in Niles. Krenpetz also said that the store has chosen to let the consumers decide whether or not they want to purchase from their supply of tomatoes – which he believes are not affected in the outbreak. The store gets their tomatoes from growers in Texas, which the FDA reports, as a state not associated with the outbreak.
Joe Shelton of Shelton Farms in Niles understands the concern of the FDA and consumers, but believes that getting information from local grocers is key to quelling fears. "As of this morning," Shelton said Tuesday, there had been no reports of anyone with onset salmonella poisoning after May 27 – meaning that the "outbreak" has already come and gone.
"It takes 12-72 hours for salmonella to incubate – to show up," Shelton said. "By the time the results were in," the outbreak was already over.
Shelton has affixed letters from his grower in Florida and information about the outbreak in the area where his tomatoes are sold, so consumers can see them. His grower, he says is a "premium" grower who takes "extreme safety precautions" and "has not shipped any tomatoes" to the main areas that have been affected by the outbreak.
"We have total confidence in our tomatoes," Shelton said. "It's our choice that I'm continuing to eat these tomatoes, my family is continuing to eat these tomatoes and we're continuing to offer them for sale."
Reports have flooded newspapers and televised news reports nationwide warning consumers before purchasing the tomatoes listed as possible dangers. But such reports are unfortunate,Shelton said. While they do inform people of the possible danger, they also cause alarm that lead to possible loss of business for growers with perfectly fine crops. That's why consumers who find themselves concerned should talk to their grocers to find out more about where the food they're buying is coming from.
Shelton mentions the industry-wide "Traceback" system – which allows crops to be followed back to their original sources. According to the FDA, that system is being used to determine cases, their origins and their links to tomatoes and tomato growers.
Salmonella, according to the MDA and FDA, "can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections particularly in young children, frail or elderly people and those with weakened immune systems."
Shelton offers several options for consumers to exercise caution including recommendations from FightBAC! a food safety program. Those recommendations include checking fruits and vegetables carefully before purchase, thoroughly cleaning hands, utensils and surfaces as well as vegetables, separating them from nearby chemicals or raw meats, refrigerating cut, peeled, cooked or fresh vegetables and fruits – and throwing away any produce not handled in such a manner.
Customers still filled plastic bags with tomatoes from Shelton Farms Tuesday, a sign that concerns might not impact sales for the store. The same can not be said for stores and growers nationwide. Those effects remain to be seen, along with new or additional cases.
Until then, Shelton will continue to provide produce to his customers – with his best interests behind them. "We thought long and hard about this," he said.
Consumers can find out more at the FDA's web page for tomato consumers at: www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html.