Will the shortage of safe-to-eat tomatoes affect your diet? / LJWorld.com

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Asked at Massachusetts Street on June 10, 2008

“Farmers’ Market, Farmers’ Market, Farmers’ Market. This is why you buy local. It may cost a little more, but they care what’s going into your food. So buy locally, and keep the money in our community. Get to know your grower.”

— Stanley M. Weil, chemical reactor operator, Lawrence

“I’m not a big fan of tomatoes. I only like them on bruschetta, so unless I’m eating in an Italian restaurant soon, it shouldn’t affect me.”

— Lily Boyce, Kansas University sophomore, Lawrence

“I love tomatoes, so of course I’m going to have to make an adjustment. I guess I’ll just have to do without until they become available.”

— Samuel Gould, disabled, Lawrence

“Yes, I love tomatoes. I have some grape tomatoes that I’m still eating, but after that I probably won’t be buying any more until everything clears up.”

— Rita Pettit, retired teacher, Topeka

Read more: Red alert for some tomatoes

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jonas (anonymous) says…

No. Tomatoes are evil.
June 10, 2008 at 6:41 a.m.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…

Tomatoes were once called Poison Love Apples. Maybe our ancestors knew something.
June 10, 2008 at 7:18 a.m.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…

Stanley's right... although it'll be another 4-5 weeks, probably, before tomatoes really start showing up in farmers markets.Meanwhile... V8, Ragu, Pace Thick & Chunky, etc.
June 10, 2008 at 7:20 a.m.
merrill (anonymous) says…

There are some beautiful local greenhouse tomatoes floating around in Checkers and at the Merc.
June 10, 2008 at 7:32 a.m.
classclown (Class Clown) says…

jonas (Anonymous) says:No. Tomatoes are evil.=====================================Only these kind.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080391/Did you have a similar experience?
June 10, 2008 at 7:45 a.m.
classclown (Class Clown) says…

Lily Boyce I hope you're pronouncing bruschetta correctly or Aaron Clary may track you down and cringe.
June 10, 2008 at 7:50 a.m.
trinity (anonymous) says…

hah class you beat me to it! i remember that brouhaha! :)i'm staying the hell out of the merc&checkers-if there are tomatoes floating around i for one do not care to witness nor be injured by that spectacle.
June 10, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.
dulcinea47 (anonymous) says…

This is so stupid... the FDA doesn't even know where the "tainted" tomatoes are supposedly coming from. Just cook them into a nice sauce and you have no reason to worry.
June 10, 2008 at 8 a.m.
Coach_Eric (anonymous) says…

Actually, Agnostick, tomatoes have been at the Lawrence Farmers' Market for weeks. Just gotta get there early...
June 10, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

I'm still buying my tomatoes until they are ready in my garden. I have a hard time believing every single tomato in the US is tainted. Last I heard, the only ones with potential issues are a variety of Roma, Red Round, and something else. Kudos to the FDA for being on top of this, but I think some businesses are going overboard at this point. Mad Cow Disease didn't even cause this much hysteria.
June 10, 2008 at 8:23 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Red plum was the other variety. And, go buy yourself some Israeli tomatoes!"Not associated with the outbreak are raw Roma, red plum and round red tomatoes from Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands and Puerto Rico."
June 10, 2008 at 8:29 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

When I heard the news on the radio, I thought they said said salmonella scare was linked to tornados.
June 10, 2008 at 8:37 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

Damn bunnies ate our 'mater plants!
June 10, 2008 at 8:55 a.m.
Coach_Eric (anonymous) says…

I hate bunnies and squirrels Blue73! Furry little thieves took our best tomatoes all last year. Something I've heard is an effective deterrant (but not yet tried) is to leave a radio in your garden. According to my barber (where else could you get such info?) the noise startles them, and keeps them out.
June 10, 2008 at 9:02 a.m.
prospector (anonymous) says…

Jonas is right about store bought. I eat the ones I grow or someone I know grows only.Blue, you might have to go all Marion on them. "Two to the body and one to the head.".
June 10, 2008 at 9:03 a.m.
prospector (anonymous) says…

My buddy Eric told me that playing "Thrasher" keeps the hippies out. Did any one try that this weekend?
June 10, 2008 at 9:07 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

There's absolutely nothing wrong with ketchup.
June 10, 2008 at 9:27 a.m.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…

Coach_eric, having a wolf pee around the perimeter of your garden might help keep the varmits out.
June 10, 2008 at 9:29 a.m.
schula (anonymous) says…

Coach Eric -- I have heard that planting marigolds around the garden will keep the bunnies out.
June 10, 2008 at 9:40 a.m.
greenvera (anonymous) says…

So this story seemed to evaporate in the mist of the tomato scare.http://www.wesh.com/health/16488170/detail.htmlAvian flu in Tyson chicken. I guess we know where the FDAs' priorities and friends lie.
June 10, 2008 at 9:47 a.m.
budwhysir (anonymous) says…

I am so lost. My entire diet contained tomatoes in every dish. What will I do????
June 10, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

Coach_Eric, I have heard that growing your plants indoors will keep the bunny foo foo at bay.http://hightimes.com/grow/ht_admin/2558
June 10, 2008 at 9:54 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Coach Eric -I don't have issues with wabbits. The wife's barking lemur keeps them away. The long-furry tailed rats require a different solution. Daisy is the name.
June 10, 2008 at 10:07 a.m.
ms_canada (anonymous) says…

Oh my gosh, I just ate a grilled tomato and cheese sandwich for my breakfast!!! What should I do now? Maybe I'll rush to the ER. Or maybe not.
June 10, 2008 at 10:10 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Ms. Canada -In the wise and prudent words of our long departed brother, One More Bob... "We're all going to die. Just probably not today." I think you are ok.
June 10, 2008 at 10:17 a.m.
dajudge (anonymous) says…

I prefer to get my salmonella poisoning from cantaloupes and chicken.But, in a pinch, I suppose I can try tomatoes. Probably a different strain.If that doesn't work, I'll go for the E. coli. in the hamburger.Anything to get a day off from work.
June 10, 2008 at 10:35 a.m.
sunflower_sue (anonymous) says…

No. I'm not afraid of a little salmonella in my tomatoes. I'll just cook everything until my plants are producing...or get them from my local farmers. Ms_C, maybe, if you follow up that sandwich with a glass of whiskey, it'll kill any bacteria looming in your stomach.
June 10, 2008 at 11:05 a.m.
Gootsie (anonymous) says…

No 'maters for me, except in salsa. Maybe we should stockpile them and throw them at our TV when Katie is on? Since we're all gonna die? perhaps not.
June 10, 2008 at 11:26 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

I believe to be safe, I will do a variation of sunflower_sue's suggestion. From now on, marinate all tomato slices in scotch...that will add a little extra zest to my grilled burgers..
June 10, 2008 at 11:37 a.m.
ms_canada (anonymous) says…

Oh such wise words from sunny sue and TOB. I do thank you and I feel so much better. That whisky (the spelling of the Scots) did the job.
June 10, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.
ms_canada (anonymous) says…

Now I have to trust that the mushrooms that are cooking at this moment in Mushroom Bisque will not do me in today. I did put some Marsala wine in it just to make sure.
June 10, 2008 at 12:45 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

MD, I'm kinda a thinking that vinegar provides a fairly hostile enviornment for the little bugs. Those big jars of hard boiled eggs in the bar, unrefrigerated? Pickle juice? Now I'm in the mood for a bowl of ice cold purple onions, tomatos and cucumbers..summer delight.
June 10, 2008 at 1:56 p.m.
peachesncream (anonymous) says…

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh not the killer tomatoesssssssssssssssssss
June 10, 2008 at 3:09 p.m.
looza (anonymous) says…

I love maters! I eat mater soup, yum yum!
June 10, 2008 at 4:26 p.m.
Bossa_Nova (anonymous) says…

oh no! brace yourselves! we're all gonna starve!
June 10, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.
themiddlechild (mary smith) says…

Samuel Gould, disabled, Lawrence----------------------Ok, I have seem more and more of this, but what exactly does this mean? Is disabled a new professional now or what's the deal here?
June 10, 2008 at 4:53 p.m.
riverdrifter (anonymous) says…

Three more weeks and I'll be over-run with 'maters. Meanwhile, where can I get some of these poison 'maters to throw at Carl Peterson, GM of the Chiefs?
June 10, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.
notajayhawk (anonymous) says…

themiddlechild (Anonymous) says: "Ok, I have seem more and more of this, but what exactly does this mean? Is disabled a new professional now or what's the deal here?"I think it's the street a few blocks east of Haskell...
June 11, 2008 at 12:50 a.m.