Tomatoes are back on some menus - but could jalapeños be the bad guys?

HARLINGEN - Tomatoes are reappearing on store shelves and in some local restaurants.

But just those certain varieties grown in regions cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"The tomatoes on our shelves are not from suspected growers," said Shelley Parks, spokeswoman for HEB in South Texas.

In June, HEB stores recalled all Roma and red round tomatoes, which health officials advised against consuming.

This week, an HEB store in Harlingen had Roma and red round tomatoes imported from Mexico, along with a sign saying the tomatoes were from Mexican states cleared by the FDA.

Cherry and vine-ripened tomatoes, which health officials have said are safe to eat, also were plentiful at the store.

Health investigators have said that tomatoes grown in 41 states, including Texas, and seven countries are safe to eat, as well as tomatoes from certain Florida counties and several states in Mexico. Inspectors are still looking at farms in some parts of Florida and Mexico.

As of Wednesday, 887 confirmed cases of infection with the Saintpaul strain of salmonella were reported in the United States. Of those, 354 were in Texas. Two cases were reported in Cameron County.

The multi-state outbreak, in 38 states and Washington, D.C., has raged for two months.

Not just tomatoes

Investigators aren't just scrutinizing tomatoes in the outbreak anymore.

On Thursday, a CDC spokesman told USA Today that investigators are widening their investigation to include the ingredients used in fresh salsa. Commercially produced salsas are not being investigated.

Several clusters of illnesses associated with restaurants led investigators to think other vegetables could be involved, the CDC reported on its Web site.

Fresh salsa can include jalapeños, onions and cilantro.

One problem in pinpointing the salmonella outbreak is that the tomatoes that could've started the outbreak are likely not being produced anymore because their growing season is over, said Dr. Brian Smith, regional director for DSHS's Region 11, which includes the Rio Grande Valley.

"It's the hardest (investigation) I've ever seen," Smith said. "We've got top-notch disease detectors working on this one, and it's a challenge."

Customers are wary

Even though some varieties of tomatoes are in the clear, some restaurant managers and importers said customers still seem worried.

Local importers said their tomato supply comes from FDA-cleared regions of Florida and Mexico.

But, at least one importer stopped stocking tomatoes after the salmonella news broke and demand decreased, said Lawrence Kroman of I. Kunik Company in McAllen. The company supplies tomatoes and other produce to wholesalers and grocery stores.

Now, that the panic is dying down, and stores are stocking some tomatoes again, the company will start bringing in Roma tomatoes from cleared regions in Mexico, Kroman said.

Fast-food restaurants like Whataburger and McDonald's have put "safe" tomatoes back in their burgers and salads, spokespeople said.

Other restaurants, however, have not.

"They're going to continue to be off until we're sure the risk is gone," said Gary Hutson, general manager of Logan's Roadhouse in Harlingen.

At La Playa Restaurant in Harlingen, fresh pico de gallo is even off the menu because of customer concern.

"People are scared of tomatoes right now," said La Playa manager Joe Rodriguez. "The tomatoes we serve are OK, but in people's minds they're not."

The restaurant's salsa, however, is in the clear - those tomatoes are cooked and therefore safe no matter what.

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Melissa McEver covers health and environment issues for Valley Freedom Newspapers. She is based in Harlingen and you can reach her at (956) 430-6252.