However you decide to pronounce it, the FDA is warning you not to eat it. Certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing these raw, red tomatoes are included in the nationwide warning issued by the FDA.
HOWEVER, the FDA says, if your tomatoes are from the following areas, they have been are shown to be salmonella-free: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. The complete list is available at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html#retailers.
Florida, one of the two big tomato-producing states, has not been cleared as health officials continue to try to determine the source.
ALSO, the FDA’s warning does not apply to the following tomatoes: cherry, grape, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached.
In spite of the FDA giving its okay to all these other tomatoes, don’t expect to find any at your local fast-food proprietor. They are wisely erring on the side of caution and eliminating the raw fruit from their menus. The tomatoes in ketchup have been cooked, though, and are therefore free of any risk of salmonella.
So far, no deaths have been reported from the outbreak, but many are sick.