Commissary tomatoes okay

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kelly Timney
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Nowhere to be found, missing from your burger and grocery stores. Round, red tomatoes are hard to come by since the Food and Drug Administration's June 7 warning of the nationwide Salmonellosis outbreak. Fortunately for base shoppers, safe tomatoes are still available at the Minot AFB Commissary. 

The commissary management is taking all proper precautions to ensure the tomatoes are, without a doubt, from safe sources. So far the FDA has cleared 48 states and countries where tomatoes can be grown and bought. 

"All our tomatoes are from Canada right now, which is one of the FDA's cleared countries," said Kendall Kenny, Minot AFB commissary's store administrator.

The commissary will start carrying Italian Roma tomatoes in a few weeks. These tomatoes are grown in a hothouse-controlled environment and are safe to consume. 

The FDA advises consumers, who are unsure where the tomatoes in their home are from, to contact the store or place of purchase for that information. If consumers are unable to determine the source of the tomatoes, they should not be eaten. 

Consumers should also be aware raw tomatoes are often used in the preparation of fresh salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo and many other dishes. 

Not all types of tomatoes are linked to illnesses. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes with the vine still attached are safe to eat. 

"Don't worry, we are watching this issue very closely," said Linda Hinton, Minot AFB commissary's produce manager. 

According to the FDA Website, here are some tips for consumers purchasing tomatoes.
-Refrigerate within two hours or discard cut, peeled, or cooked tomatoes.
-Avoid purchasing bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.
-Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water.
-Keep tomatoes that will be consumed raw separate from raw meats, raw seafood, and raw produce items.
-Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between types of food purchases. 

For more information, visit the FDA Website.