June 27, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of salmonella cases blamed on tainted tomatoes has risen some 200 in the past week to 756.

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says no new cases have been reported since June 13th. The increase is due mostly to state laboratories finishing backlogs of tests.

The outbreak has hospitalized at least 95 people, and its source remains a mystery. Investigators from the Food and Drug Administration spent the past week inspecting farms in parts of Florida and Mexico. They also examined the stops the tomatoes make on the way to market.

The government's tomato warning remains in effect: avoid raw red plum, red Roma, or red round tomatoes unless they were grown in specific states or countries cleared by the FDA.

(Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)