Cancer patient who died had salmonella poisoning (Tomatoes)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Associated Press via KXAN-Austin

HOUSTON (AP) -- Health officials in Houston said a cancer patient who died last week had been infected with salmonella poisoning.

That could make 67-year-old Raul Rivera of Houston the first death tied to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 145 people in 16 states.

Rivera's official cause of death has been listed as lymphoma. But Kathy Barton of the Houston health department said the man's salmonella infection played a role.

Barbara Rivera told the Houston Chronicle that her husband was hospitalized after eating pico de gallo, a tomato-based condiment, at a Mexican restaurant in late May.

Read more: http://www.kxan.com/global/story.asp?s=8457344

[tridim]

1. I just bought two more tomato plants today

Tomatoes are a prime source of vitamin C in my life and I can't go without. If only I could keep my neighbors from stealing them.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Per a radio news story I heard earlier today

Rivera had received news from his doctor that he might be able to beat the cancer he had. The family took him to the restaurant to celebrate, per the news story.

[aquart]

5. So now they'll feel guilty for the rest of their lives?

That sucks.

[Warpy]

3. We used to keep chemo patients away from raw food

and even tell people not to bring them plants and flowers.

And that was back in the good old days when the FDA did its job.

[question everything]

4. Makes sense

Everything around us is a potential antigen and cancer patients often have a weak immune system.

[RayOfHope]

11. I have a friend undergoing chemo

and her docs told her absolutely no fast food, and really, no sit-down restaurant food either.

[NewEnglandGirl]

6. I had lunch today

at a Mexican restaurant and when I was going in I was going to not order anything with tomatoes. But when the waiter came over to take our order he said, anything made with fresh tomatoes was not going to be available for safety reasons. I guess it is something to be aware of.

I feel for that man and his family.

[Jazzgirl]

7. I love tomatoes.

I always wash mine with anti-bacterial soap before I slice and eat them. I haven't had any problems.

[FarCenter]

8. cooking also kills salmonella

Mangia

[OhioChick]

9. What is SAFE to eat these days??

I planted my own veggie garden a month ago.

Do we still have an FDA....or is it a ghost ship?

[boilinmad]

10. Yes, we still have the FDA...

....but, its a subsidiary of Halliburton now, i believe

[slackmaster]

12. I'm afraid there is only one safe food left

[OhioChick]

13. For Now..... n/t