Ah summer – eating healthier and adding a touch of color to your diet like raw tomatoes to your salad or as a side dish, but not anymore for a while as federal officials are seeking for the source of a 16-state salmonella outbreak that has been linked to three types of raw tomatoes. Clear your fridge!!

The list of supermarkets and restaurants that are yanking the red plum, red Roma or round red tomato varieties from shelves and dishes has grown. Included are McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Kroger, Outback Steakhouse, Winn-Dixie and Taco Bell were among the companies that voluntarily withdrew the possibly salmonella tainted fruit/veggie off their shelves.

Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. The bacteria are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.


Most infected people suffer fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps starting 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness tends to last four to seven days.


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that since mid-April, 145 people infected with salmonella with the same "genetic fingerprint" have been identified. At least 23 people have been hospitalized.

A 67-year-old cancer patient in Texas who health officials said was sickened by salmonella at a Mexican restaurant is believed to be the first death associated with the outbreak. The death of Raul Rivera last week has been officially attributed to his cancer, but Houston health department spokeswoman Kathy Barton told the Houston Chronicle in Tuesday's editions that the salmonella strain was a contributing factor.


The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers in New Mexico and Texas as early as June 3 about the outbreak. The FDA expanded its warning during the weekend and chains began voluntarily removing many red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes from their shelves in response.


The salmonella causing the outbreak is a very unusual type called salmonella saintpaul, said FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who added it was not more virulent than other types of salmonella.


Federal officials said cherry & grape tomatoes, or tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and homegrown tomatoes are likely not the source of the outbreak.


Also not associated with the outbreak are raw red Roma, red plum and round red tomatoes from Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands and Puerto Rico.


The outbreak not only affects grocery store chains and restaurants, but school food programs as well.