US FDA recalls tomatoes in 3 States due to deadly contamination: Know what the infection is and how to stay safe?

Time of India

2 days ago

The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has recalled tomatoes marketed by Williams Farms Repack LLC in Georgia, North Carolina & South Carolina. The tomatoes are not suitable for use due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Recently cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc., and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors were also recalled due to the same contamination.
What is
Salmonella infection
?
Salmonella is basically a bad bug (bacteria, to be exact) that sneaks into your system through contaminated food, mostly undercooked eggs, raw chicken, unwashed fruits, or even dirty hands.
Once it's in, it starts a party in your gut, and not the fun kind. You might end up stuck in the bathroom with cramps, diarrhea, fever, and feeling like you've been hit by a truck. It's super common and usually not serious for healthy people, but yeah, it's unpleasant.
Think of it as your body's way of saying, 'That chicken was shady.'
Is it deadly?
For most healthy people, Salmonella isn't deadly, it's just a miserable few days of stomach cramps, fever, and non-stop trips to the toilet.
But if you're super young, super old, or have a weak immune system, it can turn serious. In rare cases, it spreads beyond the gut to your bloodstream and organs. That's when it becomes dangerous and needs urgent medical attention. So while it's not usually life-threatening, it's definitely not something to ignore.
Best advice? Don't try to tough it out if things feel worse than just 'a bad stomach bug.'
How to stay safe?
Wash those hands like a surgeon, especially after touching raw meat, using the bathroom, or petting animals.
Cook your food properly (especially chicken and eggs), keep raw stuff away from ready-to-eat stuff, and don't eat cookie dough no matter how tempting it is. Rinse fruits and veggies, refrigerate leftovers fast, and avoid sketchy food joints. And if you're travelling, don't trust every street vendor with your digestive destiny.
Basically, treat your kitchen like a lab, and you'll be good. Prevention is boring, yes, but way better than spending 3 days hugging the toilet.
How to identify the symptoms?
If you suddenly get hit with a fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea that just won't quit, Salmonella might be the villain. It usually shows up 6 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and can stick around for 4 to 7 days. Some people also get chills, vomiting, and feel super tired. It's kinda like food poisoning on steroids. Most cases get better on their own with rest and fluids, but if you see blood in your stool or you can't keep anything down, it's time to see a doc.
Don't play doctor if it feels sketchy.
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