In the beginning of June, 2008 it was reported that nine American states we're infected with salmonella disease from eating contaminated tomatoes. The Board of Agriculture and Natural Resources have estimated a total of 86 infections since April 23rd, and no one can trace the foundation of this sordid harvest. Although no fatalities we're reported from this salmonella infection, it still places a heavy burden on our country.
After reading this disturbing news, it brought me to the realization of how not having tomatoes will effect the goodness of our eating system. Without tomatoes we would have no; spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, Mexican style salsa, tomato paste, Lycomato-a natural antioxidant that has become a treatment for high blood pressure, toppings for many items like-hamburgers, salads, lasagnas, raviolis, burritos, tacos, the list can go on and on.
This is just a small fragment of how much we value tomatoes in our country. If we can't confide in our government to provide clean tomatoes, or at least be able to track who is distributing the dirty ones…then how can we trust that everything else we eat is safe? This issue must be addressed so that we can have a better understanding of the food we consume, and the organizers who make this food tangible.
The Health and Environmental officials said that 77 New Mexican's have been poisoned since the beginning of June. Roma tomatoes and large tomatoes are the popular cause of this outbreak. The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) said that grape tomatoes; cherry tomatoes, and tomatoes with the vine still attached are safe to eat. I wouldn't recommend eating any tomatoes until we mend this problem entirely.
After doing a brief study on salmonella, I unraveled that it is a common bacterium found in turtles and reptiles. Salmonella causes intestinal infections, and is a prominent bacteria normally established in healthy bowels. I had to scratch my head after learning this, because the public has never mentioned a connection with turtles and tomatoes. Maybe they know something we don't know? I also found out that alcohol has been proven to be an effective sanitizer against salmonella. Now I don't intend to encourage the drinkers out there, but this is just what it say's! Quaternary Ammonium is also a laboratorial sanitizer they use to kill this bacterium. The whole ammonia thing sounds a little dangerous to me.
If we would have had prior knowledge about this recent contamination, then it is possible that we would have avoided these salmonella infections. Somebody wasn't doing there job, and we as a people weren't doing our research. Let's be more critical with what we put on our dinner tables. Think before you eat, and if it doesn't look, smell, or taste right, then it probably isn't right! Furthermore, let's not ignore this issue, but work together to improve our agriculture, and create a healthier distribution of crops and vegetables.
