HOUSTON -- It might not be the tomato's fault. The government is now checking to see if tomatoes actually caused the salmonella outbreak that has made 810 people in the United States ill, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Some Houston-area residents have kept eating tomatoes, even with FDA warnings.

'If they show up in front of me, I eat them," said Alec Horn. "If they don't show up in front of me, I don't."

Now, the federal government wants to know if tainted tomatoes are really the cause. The experts said something like sheds or warehouses could contaminate tomatoes.

Local health officials are waiting to hear more.

"Well, right now, we're still waiting for the higher authorities to let us know where is this coming from and when can we expect this to end," said Kathy Barton of Houston's Health Department. "At this point, all we know is that it is a certain, it appears to be a certain variety of tomatoes. We do not know where the contamination is occurring, whether it's in the field or some point in processing."

Inspectors are in Florida and Mexico trying to find the source.

Dr. Jaydee Hanson with the Center for Food Safety said, "One of the things that they need to be able to do is have a system that would trace back to the farm when you have a problem like this. They don't have that system in place."

The specific types to avoid are raw red plum, red roma or red round tomatoes unless they were grown in states such as Texas by growers not linked to the outbreak.

Consumers are advised to:

cook tomatoes to 145 degrees for at least 15 seconds to kill salmonella
avoid buying bruised or damaged tomatoes
throw away tomatoes that appear to be spoiled
thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water
refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked tomatoes within two hours or throw them away
separate tomatoes that will be eaten raw from any raw meat, poultry, seafood or vegetables
wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and countertops with hot water and soap in between handling of different foods
wash hands thoroughly

Symptoms of salmonella infection include:

headache
stomach pain
diarrhea
nausea
vomiting

Illness from salmonella normally lasts four to seven days and most people generally recover without treatment. People with symptoms are advised to drink plenty of water, get extra rest and visit a doctor as soon as possible. When severe infection occurs, salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death.

More Information:

CDC: Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak Investigation
CDC: Salmonella Frequently Asked Questions
CDC: Map of States Reporting Salmonella Saintpaul
Information About New Mexico Salmonella Cases
FDA: Safe Handling of Raw Produce, Fresh-Squeezed Juices