Advisory

• According to webmed.com, because of the salmonella outbreak in 2008, the FDA advised consumers not to eat raw red roma, raw red plum and raw red round tomatoes, or products containing those types of tomatoes.
  
  

Symptoms

• Symptoms of salmonella infections include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
  
  

High Risk of Exposure

• The elderly, infants and those with weakened immune systems or a severe illness are at a high risk of getting a salmonella infection.
  
  

Treatment

• Those exposed to salmonella need antibiotic treatment to prevent infection from spreading to the bloodstream and then to other body sites--a condition that could be fatal.
  
  

Prevention

• There is no vaccine to prevent salmonella infection. Never purchase tomatoes that have signs of damage or bruises. Rinse tomatoes thoroughly under hot or cold water and never cut them before washing. After washing tomatoes, use a cutting board for preparation. When cooking tomatoes, cook at 145 degrees for at least 15 minutes. Wash utensils after they're used to cut tomatoes. If tomatoes are not cooked, store any cut tomatoes or product made with them in a refrigerator at 41 degrees F or less. Always wash hands with soap and warm water before and after handling tomatoes.