Consumer Information
· What kind of illness does Salmonella cause?
People who have eaten food contaminated with Salmonella often have fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The bacterium can enter the bloodstream and cause more severe illness, although this rarely happens. Infection with Salmonella also may be more serious or fatal in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems.
· What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a type of bacterium. The type of Salmonella causing illness in the recent tomato-pepper outbreak, Salmonella Saintpaul, is relatively uncommon. Fruits and vegetables that come into contact with Salmonella may become contaminated with it, causing illness if eaten. Salmonella lives in the intestinal tracts of some animals, and can live in soil and water for months. Once Salmonella has contaminated something, it can be spread from surface to surface. Fresh produce contaminated with Salmonella can spread the bacterium to the hands of a person who cuts the produce and to the cutting board on which the produce is sliced, for example.
· Why did the FDA warn against eating tomatoes during the recent outbreak?
The first case-control study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the onset of this outbreak did indicate a strong association between the consumption of certain types of raw tomatoes and illness caused by Salmonella Saintpaul.
· Why were jalapeño and serrano peppers investigated in the recent outbreak?
Recently, the CDC reported to the FDA that many, although not all, people who became ill in that outbreak ate fresh jalapeño or serrano peppers or foods that contained them, such as some types of fresh salsa. Based on that information from the CDC, the FDA expanded its investigation to include jalapeños and serranos.
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