PlusFDA Lifts Warning, Says Eating Tomatoes OKFDA Lifts Warning, Says Eating Tomatoes OKThe Associated PressThe U.S. government has declared it's OK for Americans to eat all kinds of tomatoes again, as it lifted its salmonella warning amid signs that the record outbreak, while not over, may finally be slowing. (July 17)[Notes:VO--FILE SUPERMARKET VIDEO]IT'S OKAY TO EAT TOMATOES AGAIN...ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.THE F-D-A SAYS THE RECENT SALMONELLA OUTBREAK HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF EASING -- AND IT'S LIFTING ITS WARNING ON THE SUMMER FAVORITE. [Notes:VO--FILE FARM VIDEO]INVESTIGATORS STILL CAN'T PINPOINT THE ORIGIN OF THE OUTBREAK -- WHICH HAS SICKENED MORE THAN 1200 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE.AND THE FDA SAYS EVEN THOUGH IT HAS LIFTED ITS WARNING -- IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT TOMATOES HARVESTED THIS SPRING HAVE BEEN CLEARED.THE OUTBREAK BEGAN IN APRIL AND HAS STRETCHED THROUGH THE FOURTH OF JULY. [Notes:VO--FILE FARM VIDEO] THE TOMATO INDUSTRY HAS ESTIMATED IT'S LOSSES AT MORE THAN 100 MILLION DOLLARS.THE FDA'S FOOD SAFETY CHIEF SAYS THERE WAS GOOD EVIDENCE LINKING RAW TOMATOES TO PEOPLE WHO FELL ILL -- BUT INSPECTORS HAVE NOT FOUND THE PARTICULAR STRAIN OF SALMONELLA ON ANY FARMS. [Notes:VO --RESTAURANT VIDEO]THE FDA SAY IN RECENT WEEKS -- MORE EVIDENCE HAS EMERGED AGAINST JALAPENOS.AND THE GOVERNMENT IS WARNING PEOPLE WITH WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMS TO AVOID DISHES CONTAINING JALAPENOS SUCH AS SALSA. ALSO ON THE SUSPECT LIST ----- FRESH CILANTRO. ___ ___, The Associated Press.

SelectPlusAP Top StoriesAP Top StoriesThe Associated PressHere's the latest news for July 6th: Bush defends Olympics decision; FDA widens salmonella search; Misfired fireworks shell injures crowd; Nadal wins Wimbledon.This is A-P News Minute.President Bush is in Tokyo for the summit of the world's industrialized nations. Japan's prime minister wants growing nations like China and India to pledge to cut emissions linked to global warming. President Bush also defended his decision to attend the opening ceremonies of the summer Olympics in Beijing.The FDA has widened it's search for the source of a salmonella outbreak previously linked to tomatoes. Nearly 950 Americans have been sickened. The FDA is also looking at several types of peppers and cilantro, items that are often mixed with fresh tomatoes.37 people were hurt in Charles City, Iowa during the 4th of July fireworks display. A shell misfired, sending a fireball into a crowd of people. Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer's five years of dominance at Wimbledon, beating the top-ranked player. Nadal was playing in his third straight final at the All England Club, but finally managed to get the better of the 12-time Grand Slam champion. ___ ___, The Associated Press with AP News Minute.

SelectPlusFDA Looks Beyond Tomatoes for Salmonella CauseFDA Looks Beyond Tomatoes for Salmonella CauseThe Associated PressCilantro, Serrano peppers and jalapenos are among the types of fresh produce investigators are checking in addition to tomatoes as they search for the cause of a salmonella outbreak. (July 6)The Food and Drug administration has expanded the list of foods it's looking into as possible culprits in a salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 950 Americans. At least 130 people have been hospitalized. Tomatoes have been the prime suspect in the outbreak that began over a month ago. FDA investigators aren't saying what other vegetables they're looking at, but officials do say they're looking at items that are regularly served with fresh tomatoes.That includes serrano peppers.. Jalapenos.... And salsa. Fresh quacamole is also on the list. Some patients have told the Centers for Disease Control that they ate raw tomatoes in fresh salsa and quacamole.The FDA says there are several possible reasons for the outbreak. The produce could have shared a common shipping or packaging site. Multiple foods could have been contaminated while growing at adjoining farms. They might have also been tainted by a common water source.The government has expanded its search because people continue to get sick, even after the initial warnings that tomatoes were the source of the salmonella outbreak. ___ ___, The Associated Press.

The government says the salmonella scare has ended and has lifted its ban on tomatoes, shifting suspicion to jalapeno and serrano peppers instead. Kelly Cobiella reports.