A fresh jalapeño pepper may provide clues as to how a salmonella strain infected over 1200 people in the U.S. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) it’s unknown of the pepper became contaminated in Mexico or after it was processed in Texas. Nevertheless, scientists consider today’s finding as a “significant break”:
"One of the jalapeño peppers has tested positive with a genetic match to the Saintpaul strand," said Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the CDC's Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases.
"He said officials are "looking at the chain that the peppers would have passed through to decide if any of them are a point of contamination."
The FDA continues to advise consumers to avoid eating fresh jalapeños though officials have allowed tomatoes to be purchased and consumed. Meanwhile, congressional hearings will be held later this month regarding the government’s reaction to the salmonella scare.
Sources- ABC News, CNN, CBS News, Kansas City Star, Reuters
Reprinted from Latin Americanist http://ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com/
"The FDA said all tomatoes are now safe to eat, but still won't exonerate tomatoes in the outbreak investigation as a possible cause earlier on," reports eMaxHealth at FDA: Nationwide Warning On Jalapenos.
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