Where do safe tomatoes come from? If you live outside Massachusetts you can consult the FDA list for the latest list of states and countries. The list is available at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html#retailers. And you can click on this link for the latest updates on food warnings and recalls.

Is there risk of infection with homegrown tomatoes? There have been no reports of salmonella incidents with homegrown tomatoes, but as with all raw foods, then should be washed before consuming them. There is still risk of illness even if you grow your foods organically, especially if you use uncomposted or unpasteurized manure which may contain E.Coli and other organisms.

What precautions should I take to prevent other types of food-borne illness? First wash your hands thoroughly before handling produce. You should always spray any fresh produce with warm water before eating or cooking. Cold water may not remove all of the organisms and chemical residue that may be present on the outside of the fruit or vegetable. You can also swish fruit such as grapes or vegetables with a lot of surface area such as salad greens and herbs in a basin of warm water. If there are high risk individuals in your household (such as small children or adults with decreased immune function) then you may want to wash produce in 2 quarts of warm water with 2 teaspoons of salt for 5 minutes. Drain, then rinse with warm water to wash off the salt. Also be careful not to cross-contaminate fresh fruit and vegetables when preparing other high risk foods such as raw poultry. Visit www.homefoodsafety.org for more information and to take the "How Safe is Your Kitchen?" quiz…