How to Protect Yourself from Salmonella in Raw Tomatoes

Salmonellosis, often called food poisoning, is caused by the bacterium Salmonella spp. This bacterium is present in the meat and waste of many farm animals, including poultry and beef. It is also sometimes found in dairy products and eggs. Fresh produce, such as raw tomatoes, can be contaminated by Salmonella after coming into contact with these infected products. Proper food-handling techniques and routine hygiene can cut or eliminate the presence of Salmonella in fresh vegetables like raw tomatoes.

Instructions

Eliminate Salmonella Contamination

• 1

  Buy from a regulated source. Salmonella can be transferred from infected animals to fresh vegetables by animal waste. Tomato farmers must make sure this form of contamination does not occur. Though all grocery stores and most farmer's markets are held to rigorous health and safety standards, including which farmers they purchase their vegetables from, people selling from the trunks of their cars or a freeway on-ramp are not. Buy all your vegetables from a credible source.

• 2

  Grown your own. By growing your own tomatoes, you can make sure that they are not contaminated with salmonella. Either grow them inside in a hydroponic system like AeroGarden or outside in a protected area, safe from possible Salmonella carriers such as chickens or cows.

• 3

  Wash your hands. Keep your hands as clean as possible whenever you are preparing food. In restaurants, food handlers are required to wear plastic gloves. Unless you have someone in your home with a compromised immune system, you don't need to go to that extreme, but it is imperative that you wash your hands with soap under hot water for at least 20 seconds before handling any food. This is especially important when working with foods that will not be cooked, like raw tomatoes.

• 4

  Wash all vegetables thoroughly. Always wash all vegetables and fruit thoroughly. This will not only reduce the risk of Salmonella, but also any pesticides that may have been used on the item.

• 5

  Use a clean cutting board. One of the most frequent causes of Salmonella in raw vegetables is cross-contamination. If you cut up your raw chicken before cooking on a cutting board and then cut your tomatoes on that same cutting board, any Salmonella present in the chicken will be transferred to the tomatoes. Always scrub your cutting board clean with soap and hot water before using it again. Many restaurants use separate color-coded cutting boards for preparing meat and vegetables.

• 6

  Use a clean knife. In addition to using a different cutting board for raw meats and vegetables, be sure to use a separate knife. Salmonella can easily be transferred by a knife after slicing raw beef or chicken onto raw vegetables like lettuce, carrots, and tomatoes.