Salmonella Toll Tops 1,000; Peppers Perhaps Source Fresh Cilantro Under Investigation

[Family Ties Forever!]

Wow.

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Salmonella Toll Tops 1K; Peppers Perhaps Source Fresh Cilantro Also Under Investigation

Posted: 2:24 pm CDT July 9, 2008
Updated: 4:04 pm CDT July 9, 2008

Washington -- The toll in the salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes has passed 1,000 confirmed ill, making it the worst food outbreak in years. Now the government says some types of hot peppers may be implicated, too.

Federal health officials said raw jalapeno peppers apparently made some people sick, but do not explain all the illnesses. Raw tomatoes are a chief suspect. Fresh serrano peppers as well as fresh cilantro also are being investigated.

The confusing news comes as the toll reported Wednesday reached 1,017 confirmed illnesses. One death is confirmed -- a man in his 80s in Texas.

The toll far surpasses what had been considered the largest foodborne outbreak of the past decade, the 715 salmonella cases linked to peanut butter in 2006. In the mid-1990s, there were well over 1,000 cases of cyclospora linked to raspberries, and previous large outbreaks of salmonella from ice cream and milk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged that for every case of salmonella confirmed to the government, there may be 30 to 40 others that go undiagnosed or unreported.

"The outbreak could actually be tens of thousands of people rather than 1,000 people," agreed Caroline Smith deWaal of the consumer advocacy Center for Science in the Public Interest. "It's certainly a disturbing event to have this many illnesses spanning this many months."

Previous Stories:
July 5, 2008: FDA Reports More Salmonella Illnesses
July 4, 2008: Salmonella Scare Hurting Tomato Sales
July 1, 2008: Salmonella Probe To Examine Other Veggies
June 27, 2008: Gov't Rechecking Cause Of Salmonella Outbreak
June 26, 2008: Tainted-Tomato Salmonella Cases Top 700
June 18, 2008: Salmonella-Tainted Tomato Illnesses Hit 383

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[Mr. Television]

and I love hot peppers. hno:

[70s show watcher]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

and I love hot peppers. hno:

me too the hotter the better

[PrettyinPink55]

Seriously, what's safe anymore!!!??

[InspectorExstead]

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

Seriously, what's safe anymore!!!??

SERIOUSLY!

[theshark8777]

They need to clean house in the FDA.

[Ireneparalegal]

Tomatos, cilantro, jalapenos...hmmmm...the same ingredients needed to make PICO DE GALLO salsa.