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How does salmonella get into the INSIDE of tomatoes?

The news story about the recent salmonella scare in tomatoes raised a question.

CNN reported that washing the tomatoes was not enough, since the bacteria could be inside the tomato.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/06/10/tomatoes.salm...

If this bacteria comes from farm animals or peoples' dirty hands, it should only be on the outside. Tomatoes don't get infected with salmonella themselves, so it's not like the germ is infecting the plant and spreading.

Can someone with more biology background please explain?

Thanks!

3 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    when tomatoes are picked on very hot days and put into cold water to chill, salmonella on their surface can be drawn up into the fruit.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Salmonella ia a micro organism, it may get into any nutrition product. If the tomatos got here in contact with contaminated water, or being close to a pair different type of nutrition this is contaminated with salmonella or possibly a produce worker who has salmonella touches them it may be spread. this is really common to spread micro organism. common handwashing could help prevent an infection.

  • 1 decade ago

    they spray animal feces on the ground the tomato plant draws it up inside the plant as it grows

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