Tomatoes were apparently a false lead – the probable culprit was something used frequently in conjunction with tomotoes, but not in Italian restaurants.
Officials investigating the salmonella outbreak now are looking at jalapeño peppers as a leading suspect for spreading the bacteria that has sickened hundreds across the U.S. over the past three months, according to people familiar with the probe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially blamed tomatoes. That led to industry losses of hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the National Restaurant Association, as consumers cut down on consumption and restaurants pulled them from menus.
But as the disease continued to spread, the investigation turned to other foods commonly eaten with tomatoes, in particular to other ingredients used to make salsa. Besides jalapeño peppers, officials are looking at cilantro and Serrano peppers.
[Costuluto Fiorentino Heirloom Tomatoes are supremely delicious]
Restaurants, food markets and consumers are annoyed at the half-hearted pace of the investigation.
The lengthy probe of the outbreak and failure thus far to find the culprit are sowing frustration and even anger among restaurants, produce growers and supermarkets. Officials have acknowledged the slow pace, while facing growing pressure to identify the source of contamination conclusively — something the Food and Drug Administration has warned may be impossible.
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Richie Jackson, chief executive of the Texas Restaurant Association, said the CDC’s focus on salsa could confuse consumers and frustrate restaurants. The state has confirmed more than 350 cases, the highest number of any state in the U.S.
“To blame salsa brings nothing to the table,” said Mr. Jackson, whose state has about 5,000 Mexican restaurants. “Until you can define which ingredient is the culprit, I don’t think you can blame salsa and condemn it … there’s all kind of salsas.”
He said he’s not aware that restaurants in the state have removed salsa from their menus. “If you don’t have chips and salsa at the table, you’re not in Texas,” he said. “I think some of the credibility of the CDC warnings is a little more suspect after the tomato warnings,” he added.