Sludge Watch ==> How salmonella gets into tomatoes

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

>From the Center for Disease Control we see that salmonella can enter tomato 
plants from roots or flowers.  It certainly looks like flies from sewage 
sludged fields or storage could spread salmonella to tomatoes.

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http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5413a1.htm


Salmonella can enter tomato plants through roots or flowers (8) and can 
enter the tomato fruit through small cracks in the skin, the stem scar, or 
the plant itself (9). However, whether Salmonella can travel from roots to 
the fruit, or if seeds can contaminate subsequent generations of tomato 
plants, is unknown. Understanding the mechanism of contamination and 
amplification of contamination of large volumes of tomatoes is critical to 
prevent large-scale, tomato-associated outbreaks. Contamination might occur 
during multiple steps from the tomato seed nursery to the final kitchen. 
Eradication of Salmonella from the interior of the tomato is difficult 
without cooking, even if treated with highly concentrated chlorine solution 
(10).

Public health professionals should be aware of tomatoes as a possible 
vehicle when investigating Salmonella outbreaks. Current knowledge of 
mechanisms of tomato contamination and methods of eradication of Salmonella 
in fruit are inadequate to fully define interventions that will ensure 
produce safety. Studies into these concerns should be a priority for the 
agricultural industry, food safety agencies, and the public health 
community.