SACRAMENTO (June 6, 2008) –  The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed today that one resident of Contra Costa County has Salmonella saintpaul.  The Salmonella saintpaul is related to the multistate outbreak associated with consumption of tomatoes. State and local officials are investigating whether the individual, who had traveled out of state, consumed the tomatoes in California or in another part of the country.   

Additionally, CDPH is working with public health officials in Oregon to determine if an Oregon resident confirmed to have Salmonella saintpaul associated with the multistate outbreak may have consumed tomatoes while visiting southern California.   

CDPH is working closely with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration  (FDA) and local health departments in California to determine the source of the tomatoes that these individuals may have consumed and to identify any additional cases linked to this outbreak.    CDPH recommends Californians use caution in selecting tomatoes based on guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.   FDA has no indication at this time that tomatoes grown in California are associated with this outbreak.  

FDA guidance is available at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html

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