Tag Archives: Clean Rooms

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled its Food Protection Plan just months ago with the intention of maintaining a safe food supply for Americans.

FDA’s Food Protection Plan Progress Report, released on July 2 in conjunction with the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety Action Plan Update, demonstrates areas of activity to further improve the safety of the nation’s food supply (see “Food safety plan emphasizes ‘effective action’ to prevent food supply contamination,” CleanRooms, December 2007, page 8).

The FDA Food Protection Plan focuses on prevention (building safety in from the start), intervention (using targeted risk-based inspections and testing), and response (responding rapidly when problems are identified). FDA has been working with federal, state, and local partners as well as foreign governments to execute a number of the action steps laid out in the plan.

Activity progress in report

Prevention. FDA’s prevention activities highlighted in the progress report include implementing FDA’s landmark China Memoranda of Agreement (MOA). FDA has provided registration materials to the Chinese government, identified points of contact for the MOA, and drafted the first five-year work plan. FDA held its first bilateral meeting in March 2008 in Beijing, China. The meeting solidified the relationship with the General Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ). Verbal agreements were made to focus the present efforts in fulfilling the MOA to aquaculture (five species plus Tilapia) and ingredients (wheat gluten, corn gluten, and rice protein). FDA is moving forward to establish an FDA presence in China.

An FDA delegation has also visited Indian counterparts to discuss requirements for an FDA presence in India. In addition, the agency is exploring current existing third-party certification programs.

In 2007, FDA began working in collaboration with the State Health and Agriculture departments in Virginia and Florida, several universities, and the produce industry on a multi-year Tomato Safety Initiative. As part of the initiative, FDA says, it has led assessments of grower practices focusing on the factors believed to be associated with contamination of tomatoes with Salmonella. FDA has conducted assessments in Virginia and began assessments in Florida in April.

The agency is also developing ingredient, processing, and labeling standards for pet food, as well as developing ingredient and processing standards for animal feed.

Intervention. Activities that have begun to take place include working with New Mexico State University to develop a prototype system for improving electronic screening, using open-source intelligence, of imported products offered for entry into the U.S. The evaluation of the prototype system, PREDICT (Predictive Risk-Based Evaluation of Dynamic Import Compliance Targeting) has been completed and the final pilot evaluation document is under review.

A rapid detection method has been developed using flow cytometry to identify E. coli and Salmonella in food. This system is being used in poultry processing facilities to detect and prevent bacterial contamination during food processing.

FDA has completed a three-year plan to increase state inspections and will hire at least an additional 130 employees to conduct food field exams, inspections, and sample collections using FY08 appropriated dollars. It also plans to conduct an additional 327 state contract food inspections in FY09 over the FY08 estimate. In FY09, the agency plans to conduct an additional 20,000 food import field exams above the FY08 performance goal.

Response. FDA is collaborating with other federal agencies; state, local, tribal, and foreign governments; and industry to develop the science and tools necessary to better understand the current risks of the food supply and to develop new detection technologies and improved response systems that rapidly react to food safety threats, including traceability.

The agency issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for funding to establish state Rapid Response Teams to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks, perform tracebacks of implicated foods, and evaluate data from investigations to identify trends.

FDA says it is currently exploring the use of multiple and targeted channels to quickly alert consumers of a threat to food safety.

For additional information on the Food Protection Plan Progress Report, visit www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/advance/food/progressreport.html.

Compiled by Carrie Meadows

The transfer of product or equipment from one area to another presents a prime opportunity for a contamination event to occur. Doors and pass-throughs specifically designed for clean processing environments can help maintain necessary cleanliness levels.

Standard and custom pass-through configurations

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AES pass-throughs help maintain a high-level of cleanliness for critical manufacturing processes. AES Clean Technology offers wall- or floor-mounted pass-throughs in standard or custom sizes and configurations built to fit the needs of each project. Featuring double-wall construction, gasketed doors, and a vision panel, the pass-throughs can be constructed of laminate, epoxy-painted steel, or stainless steel. Sales coordinator Mary Waters is available to speak with customers about the materials of construction, features, and options needed to create an innovative, efficient pass-through that will minimize contamination and protect operations. For more information, call (888) 237-2532, ext. 103.

AES Clean Technology, Inc.
Philadelphia, PA
www.aesclean.com

Pass-through airlocks

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Clean Air Products introduces Series 18 pass-through airlocks. Designed to transfer parts and equipment into and out of cleanrooms, they significantly reduce potential contamination by decreasing the number of people entering and exiting the cleanroom. The new units are available in white polypropylene or optional stainless steel. Standard models are constructed of half-inch sheets of solid polypropylene welded together, providing a solid plastic airlock entry system that prevents deterioration common to other airlocks made of laminated Formica over particle board. The airlock doors are made with a heavy-duty stainless-steel frame, stainless-steel continuous hinges, a Plexiglas viewing window, closed-cell PVC door gasket, and a 90

New products


August 1, 2008

Compiled by Carrie Meadows

Ductless fume hoods

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The Purair ductless fume hood line from Air Science USA provides operator safety and exceeds OSHA, ANSI, and all relevant international standards. Completely portable and self contained, these hoods are designed to protect lab personnel from harmful powders and chemical vapors using HEPA filters and advanced activated carbon filtration techniques. The Purair line consists of six models with face velocity of 100 FPM and airflow from 145 CFM up to 440 CFM. These units are available in widths from 29.5 to 69 in. Depth of all units is 27.5 in. and height is 47.5 in. The hoods offer portability and 360

JUNE 12, 2008 — CROWN POINT, IN — MicroWorks Inc., a microbiology consulting and training firm, has announced it will expand its laboratory, manufacturing, and distribution center in Crown Point, IN, creating up to 19 new jobs by 2011.

The firm, which provides its training and consulting services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers across the country, will invest $1.6 million to purchase an existing 10,000 sq. ft. facility at 2200 W. 97th Place to house its expanded operations.

“MicroWorks is a home-grown Indiana company and a prime example of an entrepreneurial life sciences business that is investing in Indiana and creating jobs for hard-working Hoosiers,” says Governor Mitch Daniels.

MicroWorks, which currently employs six associates, plans to begin hiring lab technicians and clerical staff immediately to coincide with the new facility’s opening later this summer. The company also plans to hire microbiologists and warehouse positions by the end of 2009.

The expansion comes less than three months after the company launched its MicroWorks Swab Sampling System, a system that replaces traditional swab methods and contact plates typically used in recovering microorganisms from environmentally controlled cleanrooms.

“Northwest Indiana was the right place for our growing business due to the close proximity to major markets such as Indianapolis and Chicago and our central location in the country,” says Dawn McIver, founder and chief executive of MicroWorks. “The timing for this expansion was coordinated with the launch of our new product and the current regulatory atmosphere towards upcoming rapid microbiological methods, which we plan to offer to our clients.”

Founded in 1996, the company has built its business around providing training and performing projects for companies across the pharmaceutical industry, including environmental monitoring programs, disinfectant qualification, and contamination control.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered MicroWorks Inc. up to $32,500 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The City of Crown Point will consider property tax abatement.

“This development is reducing blight and creating quality career opportunities for our local workforce,” says Crown Point Mayor David Uran. “We celebrate this as a community and are proud that MicroWorks is calling Crown Point home.”

About MicroWorks
MicroWorks, Inc. is a microbiological consulting and training firm that was established to assist pharmaceutical manufacturers in the completion of their studies. The company, which operates out of 10,000 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space in Crown Point, IN, provides a full range of microbiological services including, consulting, training, monitoring, and equipment validation.

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JUNE 16, 2008 — LELAND, NC — Flow Sciences has acquired another United States patent, #7,381,127, for the Chemical Transfer StationTM. The apparatus is the result of a partnership between Flow Sciences, ILC Dover, and EHS Solutions.

Regarding this invention, the patent abstract states:
An apparatus is described for transferring hazardous material between the interior of a container and the chamber of a fume hood having a port that includes a flexible enclosure with an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface; a first conduit extending from the enclosure to connect to the port; a second conduit extending from the enclosure to connect with the container; and a pair of glove ports in the enclosure outer wall, including sleeved gloves extending into the enclosure, whereby the interior of the container and the chamber of the fume hood are accessible through the glove ports. The apparatus may also include means for supporting the enclosure in an open position above the container.

About Flow Sciences
Flow Sciences Flow Sciences, Inc. (FSI) designs and manufactures containment solutions for research and development laboratories, pilot plants, automation equipment and robotics, and manufacturing and production facilities where toxic or noxious potent powders, fluids, or gases require safe handling while weighing, mixing, processing, or manufacturing. FSI’s commitment to safety and performance in the engineering, design, testing, and installation of containment enclosures has proven performance throughout the pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical industries, as well as forensics, academia and government research. The company sets the standard for containment of potent powders and toxic chemicals.

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JUNE 16, 2008 — SAN JOSE, CA — SEMI today reported that worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment billings reached $10.56 billion in the first quarter of 2008. The billings figure is 7 percent greater than the fourth quarter of 2007 and 2 percent less than the same quarter a year ago. The data is gathered in cooperation with the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ) from more than 150 global equipment companies that provide data on a monthly basis.

SEMI also reported worldwide semiconductor equipment bookings of US$8.08 billion in the first quarter of 2008. The figure is 23 percent less than the same quarter a year ago and 11 percent less than the bookings figure for the fourth quarter of 2007.

“While bookings have weakened in the first quarter, overall industry billings remain at levels higher than the end of last year,” says Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. “Some regions, specifically North America, Korea, and China, posted strong quarter-over-quarter growth in spite of the conservative capital environment.”

The quarterly billings data by region in millions of U.S. dollars, year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter growth rates by region can be seen on SEMI’s web site: www.semi.org.

The Equipment Market Data Subscription (EMDS) from SEMI provides comprehensive market data for the global semiconductor equipment market. A subscription includes three reports: the monthly SEMI Book-to-Bill Report, which offers an early perspective of the trends in the equipment market; the monthly Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (SEMS), a detailed report of semiconductor equipment bookings and billings for seven regions and more than 22 market segments; and the SEMI Semiconductor Equipment Consensus Forecast, which provides an outlook for the semiconductor equipment market.

About SEMI
SEMI is the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display, and photovoltaic industries. SEMI member companies are the engine of the future, enabling smarter, faster, and more economical products that improve our lives. Since 1970, SEMI has been committed to helping members grow more profitably, create new markets, and meet common industry challenges. SEMI maintains offices in Austin, Beijing, Brussels, Hsinchu, Moscow, San Jose, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington, DC.

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JUNE 10, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — PASADENA, CA — Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has received a contract from Estelux to provide engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services for a new polysilicon manufacturing facility at the existing petrochemical site in Ferrara, Italy.

Estelux is an Italian startup company with a mission to provide first-class polysilicon, strategic to the entire photovoltaic supply chain. SOLON Group, one of the largest European solar module and photovoltaic systems manufacturers, owns shares in Estelux.

Officials did not disclose contract details.

Polysilicon is purified silicon, which is the base of all crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell panels. Estelux’s plant production will cover a fundamental step in an integrated complete photovoltaic supply chain that starts with solar-grade polysilicon production and ends with the installation of photovoltaic systems.

Jacobs will execute the work from its Milan, Italy, office with support from specialist offices in Greenville, SC, and Mumbai, India. Jacobs’ Milan office previously completed the preliminary design of the plant.

The new plant will consist of two production buildings, where the polysilicon production process starts with trichlorosilane decomposition to form silicon rods, with a special closed process system, and a finishing building, with laboratories and control rooms, where the rods are crushed, transformed, and packed in a contamination controlled environment. The facility will have top-class off-gas treatment plants; a high-voltage electrical substation (with transformation and distribution stations for medium and low voltage); a wastewater treatment plant; distillation and fractionation columns; associated utilities; and other infrastructure.

The original and traditional production process called “Siemens process” has been optimized by Estelux Team to achieve a top-class product quality. The plant will reach its full operating capacity in 2010, with a polysilicon production of 4,000 tons per year. The total investment will amount to approximately 360 million euros.

The facility will be built on an area inside the Ferrara petrochemical site. Environmental impacts will be minimized during the demolition and enabling works prior to construction. Design and construction will maximize energy saving through solar panel utilities usage and recycling technologies, as well as sustainable water and rail transportation solutions and logistics issues. The plant’s proximity to the raw material for production limits hazardous materials handling to directly controlled adjacent areas inside the petrochemical site.

Estelux’s CEO Domenico Sartore notes, “Estelux is a pioneer in the photovoltaic and sustainability industry and we are glad to have Jacobs as a partner in this investment because we share the same vision and approach of developing innovative solutions.”

In making the announcement, Jacobs group vice president Robert Matha says, “We are proud to be selected by Estelux for this strategic project. Jacobs is committed to deliver the highest value of service to help them establish a strong market-leader position and satisfy the growing demand for polysilicon-based renewable energy sources.”

About Jacobs Engineering Group
Jacobs, with more than 55,000 employees and revenues exceeding $9.0 billion, provides technical, professional, and construction services globally.

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JUNE 10, 2008 — CHICAGO, IL — M+W Zander, a leading architecture, engineering, and construction management firm for high-tech production plants, manufacturing facilities, and research complexes, has been selected by the international Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) to design its new nanotechnology center in Braga, Portugal.

Located on the campus of the University of Minho in Braga, the 230,000-sq.-ft. project (21,400 m2) will feature Class 100 and Class 1000 cleanrooms, central characterization, including electron and scanning-probe microscopy, and labs suited for a wide range of scientific disciplines.

Besides the main scientific building that will be the hub of the 12-acre campus, the first phase of the project includes residential accommodations for staff and visiting professors. The second phase will include a business incubator and a nanotechnology interpretive center. When completed in 2009, the INL will employ several hundred people, including 200 scientific researchers.

In addition to its leading-edge science, the INL also will stand out for its striking design, with curving lines that dramatically conform to surrounding topography and offer a compelling contrast to traditional research facilities. “When we were tasked with creating a beautiful place for thinking, we knew we had our inspiration for the project. It was easily the most poetic aspiration for architecture we’ve ever heard. This evoked images of monastic cloisters, and naturally suggested using the project to shape and protect such a space from its busy, urban setting,” says M+W Zander architectural design leader Ken Filar, AIA.

The efficient, aesthetic design of INL, which was chosen in a competitive review process, resulted from the creative collaboration between M+W Zander’s U.S. and European offices. The architectural design and construction management are led by M+W Zander US Operations. M+W Zander’s European staff, based in Stuttgart, Germany, the corporate home of M+W Zander, will share engineering responsibilities with the North American office.

“M+W Zander’s unique strengths really shine in a project like this,” says John Busch, the project design manager for M+W Zander US Operations. “We not only have unmatched talent in the design of nano facilities, but we can synchronize the assets of multiple offices around the world to offer something no other firm can.”

The INL project confirms M+W Zander’s position as one of the world’s most experienced firms in design and construction of nanotech research facilities. It also expands M+W Zander’s global presence in this highly specialized field. INL joins the National Nanotechnology Laboratory in Moscow, part of Russia’s Kurchatov Institute, as an example of M+W Zander’s capacity to deliver top-tier nanotechnology facilities worldwide.

M+W Zander’s portfolio of nanotech projects also includes:

    LI>The Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL
  • The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
  • Albany NanoTech Complex, University of Albany-State University of New York, which was ranked No. 1 among global nanotech facilities by Small Times magazine in 2007
  • The Nanoscale Research Facility, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
  • The Nanotechnology Research Center Building, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, which will be the largest nanotech research center in the Southeast United States when completed this summer
  • The Neuroscience and Biomedical Technology Research Building, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
  • The Research & Development Center Relocation and Renovation, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, San Jose, CA

About M+W Zander
With its subsidiary companies, MWZ Beteiligungs GmbH, based in Stuttgart, offers worldwide integrated business solutions for company facilities, high-tech production plants and industrial complexes. The group focuses on the electronic, solar, pharmaceutical, chemical industries, research institutes, the energy sector, and production of cleanroom components. Facility management forms an additional focus. In 2007, M+W Zander generated sales of about 2.1 billion euros with around 8,600 employees.

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About M+W Zander US Operations
M+W Zander US Operations is a full service architecture, engineering and construction services firm based in Chicago. Operating in the U.S. since 1941, the firm specializes in complex, technically challenging projects for clients in electronics, life sciences, emerging technologies, and scientific research.

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Source: M+W Zander

JUNE 9, 2008 — /FDA Digest/ — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced that the Administration is amending its budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2009 to include an additional $275 million for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He called on Congress to act quickly on this budget amendment and pending Administration legislative proposals to strengthen FDA.

Today’s action supports the fundamental change in strategy currently underway at FDA to adapt to the demands of the rapidly growing and changing global economy. These funds will expedite implementation of the strategy outlined in the Action Plan for Import Safety and the complementary Food Protection Plan, both released in November 2007.

“Last year we outlined important changes in how this nation deals with imports. We are moving from an intervention strategy — where we stand at the border and try to catch things that are unsafe — to an integrated strategy of prevention with verification. We are rolling the borders back and seeking to build safety and quality into products at every step of the way before they reach American consumers,” Secretary Leavitt says.

The Secretary continues, “Combined with crucial legislative proposals, this increase will allow FDA to continue to transform its regulatory strategies to meet the challenges of the evolving global marketplace. I urge Congress to act quickly to give FDA the authority and funding it needs to enhance the safety of our food and medical products.”

Under the budget amendment, FDA will be able to expedite steps to improve import safety, including:

  • FDA will significantly expand its reach beyond American borders by establishing a presence in five countries or regions and by implementing other measures that will help ensure greater foreign compliance with FDA standards.
  • Another initiative will offer expedited entry for goods bearing certification by trusted parties.
  • FDA will modernize its information technology
    infrastructure.
  • Finally, FDA will conduct at least 1,000 more foreign inspections of food and medical product facilities and an additional 1,000 domestic inspections with funds in the budget amendment.

The increase brings the Administration’s total proposed increase in the FDA’s budget for FY 2009 to $404.7 million — a 17.8 percent boost in funding from FY 2008.

Some new authorities requested for federal agencies in the Action Plan for Import Safety that Congress has not yet granted include:

  • Authorizing FDA to accredit highly qualified third parties to evaluate compliance with FDA requirements.
  • Authorizing FDA to require certification of designated high-risk products as an additional condition of importation.
  • Authority to refuse admission of imports from a firm who delayed, limited, or denied FDA access to its facilities.
  • Empowering FDA to issue a mandatory recall of food products when voluntary recalls are not effective.

“FDA’s mission to protect and promote the health of the America public will be greatly aided by these additional funds to implement our strategic plan,” says Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs. “FDA has already embarked on an ambitious program to transform the agency. This added funding will ensure that FDA can move ahead with these proposals more rapidly.”

Consistent with the Administration’s emphasis on fiscal discipline, the budget amendment is fully paid for within budgetary totals.

The budget amendment proposes the following increases for core FDA programs:

  • Protecting America’s Food Supply (+$125 million) — The increase allows FDA to intensify actions to implement FDA’s Food Protection Plan. Announced on Nov. 6, 2007, the Food Protection Plan is an integrated, risk-based strategy to help ensure the safety of domestic and imported food and feed. The $125 million increase adds to the $42.2 million increase proposed for food protection in the budget announced in February 2008.

The increase in food protection activities will allow FDA to reduce threats to the food supply, expand FDA’s international presence, and increase technical assistance to help ensure that foreign and domestic food facilities comply with food safety standards. FDA will also be able to improve the risk-based approach it uses to conduct more targeted import exams and foreign and domestic inspections of food manufacturing, processing, and packaging facilities. FDA will pursue additional research on ways to prevent intentional and unintentional contamination, deploy screening technologies to identify microbial and chemical contamination, and respond more quickly to contain outbreaks of food-borne illness.

  • Safer Drugs, Devices, and Biologics (+$100 million) — The increase of $100 million for the FDA’s medical product programs will strengthen FDA’s ability to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical products, from product development and pre-approval testing through approval and post-approval safety surveillance. FDA faces growing challenges from the globalization of medical product development and manufacturing. The increase for medical product programs will allow the FDA to respond to this trend.

FDA will more aggressively conduct active safety surveillance to identify early signs of adverse events linked to medical products. FDA will also implement new requirements under the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 related to clinical trials, pediatric drugs and devices, postmarket study commitments, and the labeling and safe use of drugs. FDA will also establish unique device identifiers to track devices, facilitate device recalls, and support inventory management during disasters and the response to terrorism events. Finally, FDA will conduct more import exams and foreign and domestic inspections of medical product manufacturers.

  • Modernizing FDA Science and Workforce (+$50 million) — The budget amendment also proposes increases to strengthen FDA’s capacity to support product safety and development in areas of emerging science such as nanotechnology, cell and gene therapies, robotics, genomics, advanced manufacturing, and the critical path initiative. FDA will also improve laboratories and other facilities that are essential to carrying out FDA’s mission and invest in science training, professional development, and fellowship programs to strengthen and modernize the FDA workforce.

The program increases listed above include $65 million to modernize FDA’s information technology infrastructure. Additional information is available online at www.importsafety.gov; www.fda.gov; and www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/advance/food.html.

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JUNE 7, 2008 — /FDA Digest/ — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expanding its warning to consumers nationwide that a salmonellosis outbreak has been linked to consumption of certain raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, and products containing these raw, red tomatoes.

FDA recommends that consumers not eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red round tomatoes, or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes unless the tomatoes are from the sources listed below. If unsure of where tomatoes are grown or harvested, consumers are encouraged to contact the store where the tomato purchase was made. Consumers should continue to eat cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, or tomatoes grown at home.

On June 5, using traceback and other distribution pattern information, FDA published a list of states, territories, and countries where tomatoes are grown and harvested which have not been associated with this outbreak. This updated list includes: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. The list is available at www.fda.gov. This list will be updated as more information becomes available.

FDA’s recommendation does not apply to the following tomatoes from any source: cherry, grape, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached. FDA recommends that retailers, restaurateurs, and food service operators not offer for sale and service raw red Roma, raw red plum, and raw red round tomatoes unless they are from the sources listed above. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, may continue to be offered from any source.

Since mid-April, there have been 145 reported cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Saintpaul nationwide, including at least 23 hospitalizations. States reporting illnesses linked to the outbreak include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Salmonella Saintpaul is an uncommon type of Salmonella.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections particularly in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, the organism can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses. Consumers who have recently eaten raw tomatoes or foods containing raw tomatoes and are experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their health care provider. All Salmonella infections should be reported to state or local health authorities.

FDA recognizes that the source of the contaminated tomatoes may be limited to a single grower or packer or tomatoes from a specific geographic area. FDA also recognizes that there are many tomato crops across the country and in foreign countries that will be ready for harvest or will become ready in the coming months. In order to ensure that consumers can continue to enjoy tomatoes that are safe to eat, FDA is working diligently with the states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian Health Service, and various food industry trade associations to quickly determine the source of the tomatoes associated with the outbreak.

FDA is taking these actions while the agency continues to investigate this outbreak with state and federal partners. Such actions are a key component of FDA’s Food Protection Plan (see “Food safety plan emphasizes ‘effective action’ to prevent food supply contamination”), a scientific and risk-based approach to strengthen and protect the nation’s food supply. FDA will continue to issue updates as more specific information becomes available.

Information on safe handling of produce can be found at www.cfsan.fda.gov. Tomato consumer page can be found at www.fda.gov. Updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found at www.cdc.gov.

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