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In light of FDA warning, organizers reassure tasters
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The annual Salsa Festival in Oxnard this weekend will mark a celebration of all things salsa — including salsa dips safe for eating, festival organizers said this week.
After exonerating tomatoes in the salmonella scare, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has pinpointed the strain in a jalapeño pepper grown in Mexico and handled at a Texas produce distribution center. In response, the FDA is asking people to avoid eating raw jalapeno peppers, but that shouldn't keep people from enjoying the salsa festival this weekend, said Ruth Ballin, festival director.
"We have been monitoring the situation very closely, and we can assure everybody that the salsa at the festival is perfectly safe," she said.
Most of the salsa is cooked and bottled, eliminating any risk of contamination, and all of the fresh salsa will be prepared locally with fresh ingredients from California, she said.
The free festival this weekend involves salsa eating, but also celebrates salsa music and dancing and includes family activities.
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