Red tomatoes get green light

LYNN – Although the Food and Drug Administration lifted its salmonella warning for tomatoes Thursday and believes people can now enjoy the summer vegetables without caution, some Lynn residents are still wary of buying certain tomatoes.Since the outbreak began, the FDA advised consumers to avoid raw, red plum, raw red Roma, raw red round tomatoes and products containing these tomatoes, and to choose cherry and grape tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and those grown at home.According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), a total of 26 cases have been linked to the nationwide salmonella outbreak, with over 1,100 cases linked to certain types of tomatoes.Despite the numbers, Dirk Knoedler of Farmer Dave?s in Dracut, insists the fresh produce he sells at the farmer?s market in Central Square in Lynn is free of chemicals and other harmful agents.s?The tomatoes are basically grown in a greenhouse, then transplanted to the field where we pick them and sell them here the same day,” he said. “We don?t use chemical sprays and there?s really no time in between when we pick them and when they go onto someone?s table to eat them.”Knoedler said shoppers at the market who are wary of buying tomatoes because of the recent health scare often question him about the produce, and he rattles off his theory of why his food is safe.?I think the health scare comes from food that is shipped from say California on a long trip and has to have chemicals in it or the tomato has a split in its skin where it could spoil,” he said. “Our food is very fresh, and I always assure customers that I eat the tomatoes everyday?a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich is the best!”Lynn resident Stephanie Wenzell said while she refrained from purchasing tomatoes for the past few weeks, she ultimately succumbed to the beauty of the bright red vegetables last week.?With all of the cases of salmonella, I decided that it would be better safe than sorry, but I broke down last week and bought some,” she said. “I grow my own cherry tomatoes at my house too if I want to make tomato sauce.”Wenzell isn?t alone when it comes to abstaining from tomatoes.Popular fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Taco Bell reportedly removed the vegetable from their menus while health officials worked to determine a cause of the outbreak.The tomato industry has reported an estimated loss of over $100 million since the outbreak.Last week, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its investigation to other food items such as raw jalapeno and serrano peppers, which are often used in the fresh preparation of salsa, pico de gallo and other dishes.Canned peppers from a supermarket however, were deemed OK to eat. Cilantro however, still remains suspect.