Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has placed Louisiana-grown tomatoes on their approved safe to buy and eat list.

“Louisiana tomatoes are at peak season right now but the big supermarket chains were refusing to buy them from our state growers because of a Salmonella outbreak in New Mexico and Texas,” Strain said. “I asked the FDA to include us on the list of safe states to buy and eat locally grown tomatoes and they responded promptly.”

Strain said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warnings last week to consumers in New Mexico and Texas about the risk of contracting Salmonellosis from eating certain types of raw red tomatoes.

According to FDA press releases, there have been more than 50 reported cases of salmonella in Texas and New Mexico since April 23.

The FDA will add Louisiana to the published list of states not associated with the outbreak this afternoon, Strain said.

"There have been no reports in Louisiana of anyone getting sick from eating Louisiana tomatoes," Strain said. “We’re just really glad for our growers that the FDA approved us so quickly.”