 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
Local stores and restaurants and across the station are pulling tomatoes off the shelves and menus over concerns over a salmonella outbreak.
McDonald's is one of the latest chains of restaurants to get on board. The world's biggest burger chain began pulling sliced tomatoes from its sandwiches in the U.S., and the government says it doesn't know the source of the outbreak.
"This could affect the whole country," said J.D. Hanson of the Center on Food Safety. "I mean we're talking tomatoes grown by large commercial firms that get shipped everywhere."
At Arlington's Mexicali Blues, restaurant customers are digging in, saying a salmonella outbreak isn't going to scare them from eating tomatoes.
"The probability of getting sick from tomatoes is pretty low. You probably have a better chance of getting in a car accident today," said Fairfax resident Jacob Ballard.
The FDA is warning consumers to avoid three types of tomatoes: raw red plums, red romas, or round red. Those types have been tied to 145 infections since mid-April.
Cherry and grape tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine attached are not included in the warning.
Twenty-three people have been hospitalized in 16 states from California to Connecticut, including Virginia. No deaths have been reported.
Restaurant owner Karen Orlando called her supplier and found her tomatoes were on the list of regions the FDA said is not linked to the outbreak.
"It is scary, you know? You're in the restaurant business and that's your biggest fear is that you're going to make someone sick," said Mexicali Blues Owner Karen Orlando.
Fast food chains including Wendy's, McDonald's and Chipotle have taken tomatoes out of the mix until further notice.
FDA says the following areas that have not been associated with the outbreak:
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Hawaii
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
I had a tomtao sandwich for lunch yesterday ( I am a daredevil you see ).
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.