Salmonella Warnings Spread from Tomatoes to Peppers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to avoid eating raw jalapeno and serrano peppers amid fears the spicy vegetables may play a part in the nationwide salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 1,000 people and been blamed on certain types of raw tomatoes.

Health officials confirmed that at least 1,017 people in 42 states and Canada – including more than 400 in Texas — have been sickened by the Saintpaul strain of salmonella since the outbreak was first detected in April 2008. Officials have said that many of the sickened people had eaten at restaurants.

The FDA added the varieties of hot peppers to a nationwide warning about the salmonella outbreak. The agency still advises against eating raw red plum, red Roma and red round tomatoes not grown in geographical areas deemed safe. The tomatoes have remained a focus of the salmonella investigation.

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