Dakota tomato deal at risk

One of the ridiculous moments during the FDA/CDC call was when a reporter asked about the five states or so that aren't on the "approved" list of shipping regions for tomatoes. Obviously, the media sensed a story here - South Dakota wasn't on the list, and thus, what's up? Is the South Dakota tomato deal the epicenter of this whole outbreak? Have investigators combed the many thousands of acres of tomatoes grown in the Dakotas and found the dreaded Salmonella Saintpaul?

I think it was one of the media questions that prompted, "Would you like to handle this one, (insert name at the other agency)?"

Authorities explained that no one in South Dakota or the four other states bothered to ask FDA to put them on the "cleared" list, likely because they don't have commercial production of tomatoes.

In any case, I hope this experience with tomatoes has disabused the FDA of the notion that such meandering and confusing advice such as they have delivered for tomatoes in the last month is good public policy.

They should lift the consumer advisory on tomatoes now - or else South Dakota tomato growers will pay a heavy price.