You say “tomato,” they say “not today.”
Several Twin Cities grocery chains have removed certain varieties of tomatoes from their shelves as a precaution because of a salmonella food poisoning outbreak in other states.
Cub, Rainbow, Lunds, Byerlys, Kowalski’s and Whole Foods markets in the Twin Cities are following the lead of grocers and fast food chains elsewhere across the country.
The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that consumers avoid red plum, red roma or round red tomatoes unless they were grown in certain states and countries deemed safe.
Locally, Dave Stewart of Super One Food Market reiterated that only selected varieties were recalled by the FDA and do not include tomatoes grown in Canada.
“Ours were not infected because they are Canadian tomatoes,” Stewart said. “It’ll hurt tomato sales for a long time.”
Likewise, the produce manager at Super Valu in the International Mall said that his store’s tomatoes are grown in a hothouse in British Columbia and are not part of the FDA’s hold. He had no further comment.
But no matter how they slice it, tomatoes have been taken off the menus in some Borderland restaurants until they are given the green light for safety. Several have said they are choosing to err on the side of caution.
Local customers of Subway, Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Sha~Sha Resort, and Hardee’s may have noticed their usual sandwiches or salads are served sans tomatoes.
Barry Sherwood, owner of the Dairy Queen, doesn’t believe the hold will affect sales. “No tomatoes are being used in our store,” he said. “ I think people would rather be safe than sorry.”
Dave Peterson, owner of Hardee’s, said the bacteria didn’t occur in Hardee’s food system but the chain is using caution during the national recall. “We don’t want people getting sick,” Peterson said. “The tomatoes have been pulled from our food until further notice that they are safe.”
Thunderbird Lodge’s dining room manager reports that they have been able to fill their menu orders by continuing to use previously purchased tomatoes that they do not believe are affected. The restaurant does not use roma tomatoes.
Sha~Sha Resort staff reported that they not currently using tomatoes in their food, and will not until they receive assurance that they are safe.
Several local restaurants declined comment.
Among the Minnesota producers not covered by the salmonella warning is Bushel Boy Farms of Owatonna, the top supplier of beefsteak, grape and vine-on tomatoes to Twin Cities grocery stores.
The company said in a statement Monday it does not grow the roma or small round varieties associated with the outbreak. And it says that because Bushel Boy tomatoes are grown indoors under controlled conditions, they’re much less likely to carry pathogens than outdoor crops.
Cub Foods said in a statement that several types of tomatoes which are still available in its stores — including cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and tomatoes with the vine attached — are considered safe by the FDA.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.