Wash produce, your hands to prevent food poisoning

Q: In regard to the recent outbreak of food poisoning, I heard that washing tomatoes that have salmonella on them won't get rid of the bacteria. If this is true, how can we protect ourselves?

A: The current outbreak of salmonella infection linked to raw tomatoes first surfaced in late May. As of this writing, 228 cases had been reported in 23 states.

Most cases go unreported, so the actual number is much higher.

Rinsing may not remove all bacteria, but it can substantially reduce the "hit" you'll take if you ingest tainted tomatoes or other veggies and fruits.

The less the bacterial load, the better your body's natural defenses can cope.

Salmonella infection most often is associated with unpasteurized milk and undercooked poultry and eggs. Proper cooking can kill salmonella.

The latest outbreak is linked to red plum, red Roma, and round red raw tomatoes contaminated by a rare strain of salmonella called Saintpaul.

Note that raw tomatoes are used in prepared dishes such as fresh salsa, guacamole, and taco and tortilla fillings.

These cycles tend to repeat. You may recall past salmonella outbreaks linked to some brands of peanut butter, turkey and chicken pot pies, and bags of "Veggie Booty" snack food. Similar outbreaks involved E. coli bacteria in ground beef and fresh spinach.

There's also off-the-wall stuff: In 1984, religious cultists intentionally contaminated a salad bar in Oregon with salmonella in an effort to influence a local election.

Symptoms of salmonella infection may begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure and include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. Sickness typically lasts 3 to 7 days.

There's no specific treatment other than ingesting liquids to replace fluids lost through diarrhea or vomiting. Rehydration drinks that provide electrolytes and carbohydrates are available. IV fluids are needed in some cases.

Avoid anti-diarrheal products unless recommended by your healthcare provider. They may worsen matters if the infectious agent is E. coli or certain other bacteria.

Antibiotics usually are not recommended. They don't help much and can prolong the shedding of salmonella in the stool.

Antibiotics, however, may be required if infection spreads from the intestinal tract to the blood or other areas of the body. Those most at risk for this potentially deadly turn are young children, elderly persons, and those with weakened immunity.

The FDA offers these self-defense tips:

_Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water.

_Refrigerate within 2 hours or discard cut, peeled, or cooked tomatoes.

_Avoid purchasing bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.

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_Keep tomatoes that will be consumed raw separate from raw meats, raw seafood and raw produce items.

_To prevent cross-contamination, wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between types of food products.

My addition: Wash hands thoroughly before preparing food or eating.

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(Richard Harkness is a consultant pharmacist, natural medicines specialist and author of eight published books. Write him at 1224 King Henry Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 or rharkn@aol.com.)

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© 2008, The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.).