Posted: June 9th, 2008 - 4:20pm by Doug Powell

The Los Angeles Times reports that fast-food chains Taco Bell Corp. and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. have, in addition to McDonald's and others, stopped serving certain tomatoes. Same with supermarket chains Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons, which stopped selling red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes cited by the FDA.

Elizabeth Weise of USA Today reported this morning that simply washing tomatoes can help, but it won't necessarily remove the salmonella bacteria, because when tomatoes are picked on very hot days and put into cold water to chill, salmonella on their surface can be drawn up into the fruit.

David Acheson, director of the FDA's Food Safety and Security Staff, said that doesn't mean the public should stop washing produce, adding, "If there is surface contamination, washing is going to help remove it."

Below is a  photo from the Tampa Tribune of a Burger King at Kennedy and West Shore boulevards, indicateing it's not serving tomatoes.

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