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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

NATION

Tomato Inquiry Continues

Parts of Florida and Mexico were supplying "the vast majority" of tomatoes sold when April's salmonella outbreak began and remain leading suspects, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The hunt hasn't been narrowed to just those two places, said David Acheson, the agency's food safety chief.

"The logical assumption would be that Florida or Mexico are the most likely source" because of the outbreak's timing, he said. "But we have not simply shifted the focus to those two places. ... It's wide open for anybody not on that exclusion list."

The government counts 228 illnesses in 23 states linked to salmonella-tainted tomatoes and is urging consumers nationwide to avoid raw red plum, red Roma or red round tomatoes unless they were grown in specific states or countries that FDA has cleared of suspicion. The FDA's Web site, www.fda.gov, has an updated list. Also safe are grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and tomatoes sold with attached vines.

The northern part of Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, is on that safe-to-eat list, but counties in the central and southern part haven't been cleared, Acheson said.

Some of the sick ate tomatoes bought at supermarkets and fixed at home. Others ate them in restaurants. Among the clues FDA is pursuing: Nine people became sick after eating at one restaurant chain, which might help pin down tomato suppliers. Acheson wouldn't name the restaurant or its location Friday because it's part of an open investigation.

3 Markets Show Gains

The pullback in stock markets around the world that began last month has left only three of 52 markets tracked by Standard & Poor's/Citigroup global equity indexes with advances in June.

The three markets to show gains in June through Thursday - Jordan, Pakistan and the Czech Republic - are emerging markets. The performance echoes what was seen in January, when 50 of 52 markets declined.

In developing markets, China is down by 8.83 percent. In India and South Africa, where interest rates have increased, stocks are down 8.55 percent and 9.65 percent, respectively. In the United States, the benchmark S&P 500 index is down 8.75 percent in 2008. In June, more than $2 trillion has been lost in the world markets.

More Cuts Likely At Ford

With the U.S. auto market worsening for Ford almost daily, managers told union officials Friday the company will have to further reduce its factory work force in the coming months.

Ford also reiterated previous statements that it would make buyout and early retirement offers at targeted factories as it tries to further pare its payroll.

ENERGY

Oil Retreats; Gas Rises

Oil prices pulled back Friday after OPEC questioned whether crude can remain so high, and the dollar gained against the euro. Light, sweet crude for July delivery fell $1.88, to $134.86, in New York trading. The average national price for a gallon of regular gas rose to a record $4.066. Diesel also set a record, rising 0.2 cents to $4.796 a gallon.

A staff and wire report

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