I Underestimated the Tomato
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85823)
United States
July 15, 2008 9:35am CST
So yeah, I've heard all about the salmonella scare with the tomatoes. But I was under the impression that if you washed the tomatoes with ant-bacterial soap, or even cooked them, they would be OK to eat. Sort of like some other foods. If you cook them well, even if they may have something, it will be gone once it is fully cooked. You know if you don't cook your chicken all the way through you may get salmonella. Cook it completely, you are good to go.
But when I read the article in this week's People magazine I was surprised to learn if your tomatoes have salmonella, it doesn't matter if you wash them, cook them, or peel off the skin, they will still be tainted with salmonella. So they say to avoid raw red plumm, red Roma, and round red tomatoes unless you know for certain where they came from. The safe tomatoes include cherry and grape tomatoes, or tomatoes with vines still attached. The FDA even has on their site what areas they have "cleared" tomatoes to be OK. Their site is www.fda.gov. Anyway, sorry if someone has already posted this.
You know what? We're going to have to start buying our tomatoes from Grandpa Bob!
7 people like this
21 responses
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I got some tomatos to sell too lol. I dont eat alot of tomatos so this scare didnt effect me much. It is nice to know that I know mine are safe cause I grew them myself. They are getting big just not red yet so im hoping soon to have me some fresh homegrown tomatos.
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
15 Jul 08
We have eaten some tomatoes already here girl. Neener neener neener!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM DADDY !!~
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85823)
• United States
16 Jul 08
I haven't eaten tomatoes in any place but a restaurant. In fact, there is one restaurant around here that actually has a sign that says, Until otherwise indicated, this restaurant will no longer serve tomatoes in any dish. It's all because of the salmonella thing.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
15 Jul 08
I don't trust the FDA's word regarding which States are affected and which States are cleared. My State was NOT on the list for the tainted Salmonella tomatoes and there are over 900 reported cases already. I also do not understand why it takes them 2 months to publish a recall or an alert, they need to get it together. I am on my way to Grandpa Bob's house to buy some tomatoes, at least I know those are safe to eat. LOL
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (85823)
• United States
16 Jul 08
Apparently they aren't sure now if tomatoes are the only thing causing the outbreak. The article said 80 percent of the salmonella cases involved people who ate tomatoes. So since that was the big thing they all had in common, they targeted that. But the article said it could also be partly cilantro or even peppers as well. I don't bother with cilantro anyway.
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I will have to tell my husband that. He was telling me last week that cooked tomatoes were okay. Mississippi is suppose to be okay. Some of the restaurants have stopped serving tomatoes on their hamburgers. Sure tastes different without that tomato slice. I would love to buy Grandpa Bob's tomatoes but I'm afraid the shipping would break me, lol.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
15 Jul 08
ALright, let's go see Grandpa Bob.
I have been eating tomatoes right along and have pretty much ignored the warnings. I guess i have been lucky an had no problems.
Pretty soon my homegrown will come in. We have a ton of grape tomatoes and the others are growing but nothing red yet.
All of these food scares are really getting old.
BTW- Thanks for the heads up on this, I will pay more attention in the future.
3 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
15 Jul 08
I would have thought that cooking would have removed the risk too. Luckily for my family we only eat cherry tomatoes anyway I hate the big bulky tomatoes they are horrible. Although I do like the vine tomatoes they can be nice but expensive.
2 people like this
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
15 Jul 08
Thats odd - our local news station has been saying that if you cook the tomatoes they will be fine. I'm still buying tomatoes at the store, but I've stuck with the ones that are home grown locally here. And I do wash them carefully. I wish I could grow the things here in my yard, but we have too much sand and too many critters that eat them before they can ripen.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85823)
• United States
16 Jul 08
Yeah, that is usually the case. You wash, you cook, then they are fine. But the local news may just be going with what their experts say. I know that is what they had said earlier in the outbreak here. That if you cook them, they are fine. But after I read the article I did more research online. Apparently most people do think those precautions eliminates risk, but it doesn't.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Jul 08
Wow, thanks for this. I didn't know they were still having problems with the tomatoes. And I am glad I stayed away from them at the cookout. I love the grape and cherry tomatoes and that is what I usually buy more of except for the sandwhich kind. I will stay away from them it isn't worth getting sick over and I know some people will be having some to sell soon out of their gardens.. thanks for the heads up.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157769)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Now they are suspecting that the salmonella may be in the jalapeno peppers not the tomatoes. I have heard lots of grass roots demand for tracking of produce. In our local grocery they even post where the local farms are where they are getting the tomatoes. It is much more reassuring.
@AmbiePam (85823)
• United States
21 Jul 08
That article stated there was a chance it could be from cilantro or jalapeno peppers, but they didn't want to stake anything on it. I imagine they are going back and forth, not wanting to put any more scares out there. I don't know, I don't really buy much of any of those. I like it when places can show me exactly where their products come from.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I will have my Market tent set up in about a weeks time. Tee hee!
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I do not understand how cooking would not destroy the salmonella germ -
the worst thing about the tomato situation is it is too difficult to determine where they came from unless it is a local farmer.
usa tomatoes get shipped out of country and mixed in with foreign grown and then reshipped back to the states in an effort to package like sized fruit.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Jul 08
Yup Ambie..sadly I heard about this too...that even if one was to sandblast tomatoes it wouldn't get rid of the potential salmonella contamination. Ever since I heard about the tomato business I've been staying clear of them...AND I MISS THEM..waaahhhh. I never realized just how much I used tomatoes before...So Ambie...should I pick you up by broom and we can go to GRANDPA BOB's and get our tomatoes...LOL
PS..hoping to get that check thing settled...still waiting..but once I do, I swear going to get the fixings to start growing my own things in my apt. Could grow all year long then
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85823)
• United States
16 Jul 08
You and Grandpa Bob ought to start a joint venture. You know from reading another person's response in this discussion, apparently some news stations are telling people if you cook them they will be OK. I hope these stations will be more careful. Initially that was what our local news was reporting too.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Jul 08
Hi AmbiePam I have lucked out as apparently all the
tomatoes we get here inCa are grown locally and are
deemed safe. So as many tomatoes as I eat, I have
never been ill so the authorities are right, they'
really are safe to eat. I bet Grandpa Bob would sell
us tomatoes but getting them here from Minnesota would
be a bit tricky as I live in California. lol.lol.
2 people like this
@lynettebyc (2416)
• China
21 Jul 08
Hey, AmbiePam, it's difficult for me to get tomatoes from Grandpa Bob.
I didn't know this piece of information. I thought tomatoes are full of vitamin c and i eat them everyday. I'd better check
Enjoy life 
I didn't know this piece of information. I thought tomatoes are full of vitamin c and i eat them everyday. I'd better check
Enjoy life 1 person likes this
@lynettebyc (2416)
• China
21 Jul 08
I haven't heard there's a salmonella break in China. Wow, it must be very expensive if i buy tomatoes from Grandpa Bob
@fury2525 (139)
• United States
17 Aug 08
nope with me i grew my own this year. lol
hard work for someone with fibromyaglia, arthritis to name a few, but i got a great husband in training, my finacee dave who loves me enough to help with
the things i love, i also grew peppers.
I have gardened long time ago, bout 5-6 yrs when i didnt have health problems and
could fully get down and dirty in the dirt like i like too...lol
not now if im down thats all she wrote,
He helps me more than anyone knows.
I love him more and more, my love, my helpmate, my soulmate, Dave.
Lish
sorry but i feel somedays you should shout to the world of those you love, with the shape of this world who knows how long we all have.
1 person likes this
good suggestion!!anyway im glad for that additional information on tomato..
@rowantree (1186)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I had seen something similar to what you're saying on Good Morning America. They were telling people that when the vine is removed from the tomato, the bacteria then spreads INTO the tomato itself so just scrubbing the outside isn't good enough.
Scary, isn't it?! I wanted to grow tomatoes this year and then forgot about it - now I'm kicking myself!
1 person likes this
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
16 Jul 08
I like tomatoes very much though I didn't eat them these days. At the same time, I underestimated the tomato as well. Usually, I think they are delicious and versatile. I have never paid attention to their look and the like. Thanks for yuor remind, I will take your advice secriouly.
@sweetbarbie22 (304)
• Philippines
16 Jul 08
yeah you should'nt really underestimate it's purpose, don't you know also that it has a good source of Lycopene wich prevent cancer? hehehe..so learn to cherish it!hahahha
