The CDC, like the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), is investigating the PTS – the poison tomato scare. And what it’s found so far is that 810 persons have been infected with the bacterium known as salmonella in 36 states and the District of Columbia. That’s 810 persons who won’t be enjoying a cheeseburger with fries – or any other food—for awhile.

Now, this CDC SOS doesn’t mean bad tomatoes were grown or harvested in those 36 states or in D.C. – though it might be argued plenty of rotten vegetables reside in the latter. It just means that bad tomatoes were sold and consumed in those states.

But where did they come from? So far, says the FDA, it appears that one place where the poisonous tomatoes may have originated is Mexico, from which they were shipped to the U.S.

Let’s see, which state has the biggest border with Mexico?

Bingo! It’s Texas. And Texas, wouldn’t you know, has more salmonella cases that any other state. In fact, says the CDC, Texas has had 293 cases, or almost 40 per cent of the national total. And the Texas Department of State Health Services says it’s even more: 330 food poisoning cases.

Either way, that’s a lot of marathon running between bedrooms and bathrooms. Well, at least our state’s citizens are losing weight.

How bad of an outbreak is this? Pretty bad. The CDC says only three persons had reported salmonella poisoning in the same period a year ago – barely a blip on the tomato radar.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that no one should eat any tomato in any state for the time being. For the record, the FDA is most leery of raw red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes – and you should be, too.

But beyond that, and given the price you might pay, it seems to me you’re still taking a chance when you chomp down on any old tomato – or fresh one -- these days. And of course, if you’re a Texan, you just might want to stick to an all-jalapeno diet. After all, anything goes down better than tainted tomatoes.

Get a free case evaluation from a tomato food poisoning lawyer at Jim S. Adler & Associates today.

-- Bruce Westbrook/Jim S. Adler & Associates