As salmonella cases continue to climb, the government is checking to see whether tainted tomatoes really are to blame for the record outbreak — or if the problem is with another ingredient, or a warehouse that is contaminating newly harvested tomatoes.

The widening outbreak — with 810 people confirmed ill, including four in New Jersey — means whatever is making people sick could very well still be on the market, federal health officials said.

Tomatoes remain the top suspect, and the advice on which ones consumers should avoid hasn’t changed, said Dr. David Acheson, head of food safety for the federal Food and Drug Administration.

(Source: Associated Press)