McDonald's, Burger King and a number of other restaurant chains announced Monday that they were suspending the use of certain fresh tomatoes until they learn the source of a recent nationwide salmonella outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers nationwide over the weekend not to eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes while the agency investigates the source of 145 recent cases of "Saintpaul" salmonella in 16 states that appear linked to uncooked tomatoes, the Associated Press reported.

Salmonella food poisoning from raw tomatoes has spread to 16 states, causing U.S. health officials to speculate that the outbreak might be nationwide, the Associated Press reports.

The infestation first began in Texas and New Mexico in mid-April, the wire service said. The latest statistics from those two states' health departments put the number of cases at 56 in Texas and 55 in New Mexico to raw, uncooked, tomatoes.

Jun. 4, 2008 12:00 AM

CHICAGO, (Reuters) - Health authorities are looking into an outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning in U.S. nine states, with illnesses blamed in two of the states, Texas and New Mexico, on eating raw tomatoes, officials said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in those two states there have been 57 reported cases of illness caused by an uncommon type of Salmonella bacteria called SaintPaul since late April.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCri...

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FRIDAY, April 25 (HealthDay News) -- You can grow a healthier tomato by watering it with diluted seawater, a new study shows.

When they’re fresh from the Farmer’s Market, a quality produce store or best yet, your garden there is nothing in the world like a tomato. While it’s still a tad cool to have some grown in my garden, there are some exceptional ways to prepare the fat-free, ultra flavorful vegetable (or fruit, depending on who you believe).