U.S. food safety inspectors will head to Florida and Mexico this weekend to examine tomato farms and distribution chains, hoping to pinpoint the source of a widening Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 550 people, officials said on Friday.At least 552 people in 32 states and the District of Columbia have become sick in a outbreak linked to certain kinds of tomatoes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That marked a big increase from the more than 350 illnesses in 30 states that the CDC reported on Wednesday.
Investigators believe the numbers could go higher because the outbreak is probably still underway, David Acheson, director of food safety for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, told reporters.A new cluster of illnesses was reported in Texas, with 265 identified cases there, the CDC said on Friday. None have have been reported in Mexico.
Officials said this may be the largest U.S. outbreak of Salmonella infections from tomatoes.
source
That marked a big increase from the more than 350 illnesses in 30 states that the CDC reported on Wednesday.
Investigators believe the numbers could go higher because the outbreak is probably still underway, David Acheson, director of food safety for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, told reporters.A new cluster of illnesses was reported in Texas, with 265 identified cases there, the CDC said on Friday. None have have been reported in Mexico.
Officials said this may be the largest U.S. outbreak of Salmonella infections from tomatoes.
source