Salmonella Investigators now focus on jalapenos

In the latest twist to the ongoing multi-state outbreak of human Salmonella serotype Saintpaul infections; the investigating officers have shifted their focus on jalapeño peppers, considering this Salsa ingredient as a leading suspect for spreading the bacteria.

The U.S. health officials initially blamed tomatoes for the Salmonella outbreak, but when the new case of human illnesses continued to emerge their investigation turned to other foods commonly eaten with tomatoes.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday that the main focus has turned away from tomatoes, and they are now looking at fresh salsa as a prime culprit behind the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds across the U.S. over the past three months.

The CDC has stated that the tomatoes are likely not the source of the salmonella infection, and the outbreak might have been caused by tainted fresh salsa, more specifically, jalapeno peppers in the salsa.

The health officials probing the outbreak have already begun collecting samples from restaurants and from the homes of those who have been sickened. While interviewing the salmonella-affected people, the health officials came to know that many had consumed jalapeno peppers, often in salsa served with Mexican food.

However, none of the jalapenos samples taken from restaurants and from the homes of sickened people have tested positive for Salmonella saintpaul.

Federal officials early this week said that tomatoes remain the prime suspect. Agreed with their opinion, the health officials also stated that tomatoes cannot be ruled out as the cause of the widespread infection.

The CDC in collaboration with public health officials in many states, the Indian Health Service, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating ingredients commonly used in fresh salsa, which is prepared in restaurants. Its main ingredients are tomatoes, but to make it more stuffy people at home or cooks in restaurants add onions, jalapenos, garlic, cilantro and other fresh products to it.

Not canned salsa, but only the fresh-made salsas prepared at home or local eateries are under the probe scanner.

According to the latest update by the CDC about the developing salmonella outbreak, salmonella Saintpaul has sickened at least 922 people in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and sent more than 110 to the hospital.

Salmonella is a kind of rod-shaped Gram-negative enterobacteria that causes typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever and food-borne illnesses like bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, weak or aged people, and others with deteriorated immune systems.

The illness lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.