Pennsylvania Department of Health Confirms Fifth Salmonella Case Linked to Nationa...( Investigation Shows No Link to Pe...),Health

Investigation Shows No Link to Pennsylvania-Grown Tomatoes

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Five illnesses caused by Salmonella Saintpaul now have been confirmed among Pennsylvania residents, State Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson announced today. These cases are linked to the current multi-state Salmonella outbreak associated with tomatoes that has produced at least 338 cases nationwide since April.

One case each has been identified in Bucks, Butler, Lancaster, Warren and Montgomery counties. Investigations of these cases are underway. At this time, the Department of Health investigation indicates at least two of the individuals appear to have been exposed outside of Pennsylvania.

"The Department of Health is working very closely with our partners at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and with other state health departments to thoroughly investigate these cases," Dr. Johnson said. "We know from specialized tests of the Salmonella performed at our state public health laboratory that these cases are part of the larger national outbreak."

At this time, FDA is advising U.S. consumers to limit their tomato consumption to those that are not the likely source of this outbreak. Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said that Pennsylvania tomatoes were cleared and not associated with the outbreak.

"Pennsylvania grown tomatoes were not the source of the recent salmonella contamination, and Pennsylvanians should know that our tomatoes are safe," said Wolff. "Consumers can continue to seek out locally grown, fresh tomatoes of all types, including round, roma and plum red tomatoes, especially those designated as PA Preferred."

Currently, the only Pennsylvania tomatoes on the market in any volume are greenhouse tomatoes. Local greenhouse tomatoes are being harvested now, and tomatoes grown in high tunnels or unheated greenhouses will start ripening in volu
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