Tomato salmonella scare

CHICAGO — Federal officials hunted for the source of a 17-state salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes, while the list of supermarkets and restaurants yanking those varieties from shelves and menus grew.

McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Kroger, Outback Steakhouse, Winn-Dixie and Taco Bell were among the companies that voluntarily withdrew red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes unless they were grown in certain states and countries.

In addition, officials at the Los Angeles Unified School District — the nation’s second largest — said Monday they have “indefinitely suspended” serving uncooked tomatoes.

At The Stable in downtown Culpeper, manager Nick Fotenos said the outbreak hasn’t impacted them as severely as other larger chain restaurants and stores. Fotenos said the restaurant’s food supplier has assured a safe product. “Our tomatoes, they come from Florida and the outbreak was mostly with tomatoes that come from the west.”

The FDA is investigating the source of the outbreak, agency spokeswoman Kimberly Rawlings said. “We are working hard and fast on this one and hope to have something as quickly as possible,” Rawlings said Monday.

Culpeper Chick-fil-A owner Rick Combs said his restaurant stopped serving tomatoes Monday. “We threw out about two and a half cases,” Combs said.

Some other restaurant operators that stopped serving most tomatoes are: Yum Brands Inc., which owns Taco Bell, KFC, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food Restaurants.