Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Teresa Heilevang on July 08, 2008, 06:18:45 PM
Title: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on July 08, 2008, 06:18:45 PM
Got this from, Mike.. a friend of mine..who is very up to date on the food source industry.. .he e-mailed Dr Thornsberry asking him about the tomato outbreak.. he got this reply.:
I am sure the FDA is being careful not to implicate our neighbor to the south. It is probably tomatoes produced with manure as the fertilizer source, probably poultry litter or human waste. Sounds like Mexico to me. Swine or dairy manure could also be a source of Salmonella spp. bacteria. There are always cases of carrier humans, Typhoid Marys, so to speak, but it would very unusual for so wide spread a condition to be the result of someone not washing their hands.
Although the recent E. coli O157:H7 scare was from leaf spinach produced in a live hog, feral hog, contaminated field in California, tomatoes are different in their method of harvesting and growth. Contamination of the environment by Salmonella spp., which is always an oral-fecal route of contamination,would be the obvious source of contamination.
If we continue as a country to secure our food from foreign countries, who have different methods of hygiene and culture, we will continue to reap the reward. There is no FDA or USDA in these foreign countries to police the systems of production. I have been to these countries. I have identified the deficiencies personally.
Dr. Thornsberry
-- R. M. Thornsberry, D.V.M., M.B.A. "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast:" Proverbs 12:10a --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 19, 2008 F.D.A. Says Source of Tainted Tomatoes May Stay a Mystery By BINA VENKATARAMAN
The Food and Drug Administration may never be able to pinpoint the origin of salmonella-tainted tomatoes that have sickened hundreds of people, an agency official said Wednesday.
"We may not ultimately know the farm where these came from," Dr. David Acheson, the agency's associate commissioner for foods, told reporters in a conference call. "Some trace-backs that we thought were looking pretty good have been falling apart."
Dr. Acheson said he remained optimistic, but added, "I'm trying to be realistic."
The agency is investigating a cluster of nine people who ate tomatoes at the same restaurant chain, but has not disclosed the chain's name or location.
Also on Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised its count of people who have become sick from eating raw tomatoes, to 383 in 30 states and Washington, D.C., up from 277 cases in 28 states and Washington.
And the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it had confirmed six new cases in addition to a previously known one. More cases might still be confirmed, the department said.
An official at the disease centers said the increase in national cases was mostly from greater surveillance at the state level and positive identifications of salmonella samples in recent tests. At least 48 people have been hospitalized.
The tainted tomatoes were probably grown in Mexico or central or southern Florida, Dr. Acheson said. The agency is looking for the genetic fingerprint of the rare strain of salmonella responsible for the illnesses, tracing the tomatoes back through the supply chain.
Dr. Robert Tauxe of the disease centers said the process would require "finding someone who not only remembers what they had to eat and where they ate it, but someone who doesn't have tomatoes more than once a day."
Dr. Tauxe added, "We do not think the outbreak is over."
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: jaybet on July 08, 2008, 06:21:48 PM
The ONLY good thing about living in NJ? Ya can't go wrong with Jersey 'Maters!!!
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: ericire12 on July 08, 2008, 06:25:13 PM
The ONLY good thing about living in NJ? Ya can't go wrong with Jersey 'Maters!!!
James Island SC has the best tomatoes ON THE PLANET!
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: SwoopSJ on July 08, 2008, 06:36:10 PM
Assuming these tainted tomatoes originated in Mexico, isn't this incentive to stop paying farmers for not growing crops. Don't get me wrong, I support American farmers whole heartedly, but crop prices definitely don't need to be inflated at this point, which was the intent of subsidies to begin with. Also, when you have to rely on outside sources, which compromise safety, to meet demand... whats the point? Just my 2 cents, and it's probably not worth that.
Swoop
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Hazcat on July 08, 2008, 06:43:01 PM
DUDES! I'm from FLORIDA, ever hear of Ruskin tomatoes?
And that lack of information from the FDA really hurt the industry! Just say thanks to Jorge Bush!
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: jaybet on July 08, 2008, 06:44:55 PM
MY tomato is bigger than YOUR tomato!
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Neon Knight Anubis on July 08, 2008, 06:58:24 PM
Great, now we have tomato envy.
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on July 08, 2008, 07:19:24 PM
Doesn't matter what you try to talk about in a room full of men.. This is what you get every time. Who has the biggest gun.. the biggest tomatoes... the biggest this and the biggest that....... And all of us girls know that the only thing you boys have that is bigger than someone else's is your nose growing from lying about how big something is. ;D
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: twyacht on July 08, 2008, 07:40:58 PM
NC Heirloom, big as a softball, best 'mater sandwich around. Don't make me post pics, I need a wide angle lens 8) 8)
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on July 08, 2008, 07:49:19 PM
Oh Brother............ ::) ::)
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Ron J on July 08, 2008, 07:50:09 PM
As a child, I was forced to eat tomatoes. This and being potty-trained at an early age has contributed to my many neurotic activities.
I heard some time ago that Homeland Security was thinking about taking over USDA because of their concerns for food safety.
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: SwoopSJ on July 08, 2008, 11:03:32 PM
'Mater sandwich, mmmmmmm! Thanks a lot, now I look like I'm rabid and desperately need a bib! ;D
Swoop
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: tombogan03884 on July 09, 2008, 03:39:50 AM
As a child, I was forced to eat tomatoes. This and being potty-trained at an early age has contributed to my many neurotic activities.
I heard some time ago that Homeland Security was thinking about taking over USDA because of their concerns for food safety.
Homeland Security = Internal Security >:(
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: tumblebug on July 09, 2008, 05:13:45 PM
Wife's uncle over dosed on homegrown tomatoe BLT's.Ended up in hosp.
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: alfack on July 09, 2008, 05:56:47 PM
Glad I never liked tomatoes in anything except soup, catsup and salsa. But what I don't get is can't you just wash them? It seems to me that washing them would wipe out all of the nasty bacteria. Don't tell me they were osmotating through the skin :)
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: jerry on July 09, 2008, 07:49:37 PM
Glad I never liked tomatoes in anything except soup, catsup and salsa. But what I don't get is can't you just wash them? It seems to me that washing them would wipe out all of the nasty bacteria. Don't tell me they were osmotating through the skin :)
When tomatoes are picked, where the stem was connected sort of dries up and cracks. After they are picked, they are washed, and this is when the bacteria that is now floating around in he wash tank enters the tomatoe.
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: blackwolfe on July 09, 2008, 07:51:12 PM
Heard on some radio news program today that jalapeno peppers may be part of the problem. Can you say salsa? On another radio news program back when this first made the news it was claimed that tomatoes may very well be able to incorperate the salmonella bacteria intearnally into the structure of the tomato itself. This means that simply washing the tomato will not clean the bacteria off.
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: gunman1911 on July 10, 2008, 09:35:32 AM
I like them a lot too but I always thought you just wash and enjoy but now I guess that not exactly true and the stores do not sat where they are from, so all you guys bragging about who has the biggest matters send to me and I'll be the judge of the . Best tasting matter winner gets to send me matters for a year. ;D
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Rastus on July 10, 2008, 10:51:25 AM
Heard on some radio news program today that jalapeno peppers may be part of the problem. Can you say salsa? On another radio news program back when this first made the news it was claimed that tomatoes may very well be able to incorperate the salmonella bacteria intearnally into the structure of the tomato itself. This means that simply washing the tomato will not clean the bacteria off.
Do a search on "bathtub cheese" or queso and TB. There are cases of TB now due to queso and unwholesome production methods.
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on July 13, 2008, 09:22:04 PM
I wonder if this was the first time he pulled his 5th wheel!~~ ???
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on July 13, 2008, 10:06:26 PM
This is really cool...try it !
When you click on the link, a series of about 15 pictures will come up.
Click on a photo in that category that appeals to you.
Again 15 pictures will come up, click the one for you and move on. Just continue to keep picking. At the end it will give you a profile of yourself.... It's called a visual DNA.... Your choices dictate your profile.
http://dna.imagini.net/friends
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: SwoopSJ on July 14, 2008, 12:16:05 AM
Kinda scary how insightful this can be regarding your true personality. Took the "quiz" three times... results always came back, a$$hole! ;D
Swoop
Title: Re: Just Some Miscellaneous Information.
Post by: twyacht on July 14, 2008, 06:02:20 AM
They didn't show blowing up watermelon with some JHP's as an activity I might enjoy. ???