Researchers: once blamed tomatoes for the outbreak of salmonella, but now they believe it can be traced back to jalapeños imported from Mexico. Lin
Tomatoes taken off chopping block for cause of salmonella outbreak, jalapeños imported from Mexico charged.
Many people have been watching the fresh produce they eat ever since a strain of salmonella was found in fresh jalapeños. Kroger grocery stores around the country removed them from stock.
“We did a voluntary recall based on an FDA advisory,” said Glynn Jenkins, director of communications for the store.
Yet now, the scare may be over. The FDA has cleared jalapeños grown in the U.S., according to Jenkins.
The salmonella, which is a type of bacteria, did not come from growing on the peppers, according to James Barbaree, professor and department chair for biological sciences.
“It is coming from another person or animal somewhere,” Barbaree said.
Jean Weese, professor and food scientist, said salmonella can predominantly be found in the feces of animals.
“It can be transferred to most things, like fruits and vegetables, by feces getting in the ground,” Weese said.
This can occur anytime it rains and the feces splatter up onto the plants. It may get into some deep crevices, and that is why it can remain there even after the fruits or vegetables have been washed.
The one way to completely prevent the possibility of salmonella contamination is to not eat anything fresh, according to Weese.
“The only way you could do that is cook it,” she said. “When you cook it, they (the bacteria) die.”
She does not recommend that, however, since most nutrients are found in fruits and vegetables.
“Washing the food is your best recourse,” she said.
“There are a lot of different types of salmonella,” Barbaree said. “Most of them are harmful, but they vary in their virulence.”
Some are also more common than others.
Even though this is the case, it is possible to contract types of salmonella and not get sick.
“A lot of people will get it, and you would never know the difference,” Weese said. “It depends on your immune system.”
Barbaree said there are measures people can take to help prevent contamination from occurring.
“The food can be washed and processed in a more clean environment,” he said.
He also thought isolating the area from animals would help.
Since the FDA has cleared jalapeño peppers grown in the United States, consumers will soon be able to go back to enjoying something spicy.
“We will get back in the business of jalapeño peppers,” Jenkins said.
Consumers will be able to see the peppers back on Kroger’s shelves by late Monday or early Tuesday.
