You Say Tomato, He Says Salmonella?! Feds' 'confusing, back-assward' bumbling can't explain how insides got contaminated By Sam Biddle Posted Jun 12, 2008 2:50 PM CDT Copied Tomatoes with vines still attached are on sale at the Hunger Mountain Cooperative in Montpelier, Vt., Tuesday, June 10, 2008. (AP Photo) Food-safety experts continue to scratch their heads over the recent salmonella outbreak in tomatoes—and Barry Estabrook, in Gourmet, is peeved that he can't get any explanation on how the intestinal bacteria actually gets inside. One expert from a produce trade group speculates that contaminants enter through cuts in the fruit’s skin as it spends months ripening on the vine. Regardless, Estabrook doubts the "confusing, back-assward" Food and Drug Administration will help much. "The FDA has consistently shown that it is more interested in protecting the interests of the agriculture industry than the health of American consumers," he writes. Concurs a a rep for a public-interest group: “All consumers can do is cross their fingers and hope." Read These Next Trump, Johnson aren't happy with pick for Super Bowl headliner. It's being called a disturbing trend: paragliders with bombs. Feds cite ChatGPT evidence in arrest of Palisades Fire suspect. Felix Baumgartner's death attributed to his own error. Report an error