The CDC has announced that at least 172 people in 18 states had been confirmed ill with Salmonellosis as part of a nation-wide outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium infections. Eleven people have been hospitalized.

An ongoing investigation indicates that contaminated produce, possibly tomatoes, is the source of the outbreak. The CDC has announced that the Food and Drug Administration is working to help trace the source of the outbreak.

“When the FDA is involved, there’s a pretty good chance that a fruit or vegetable is the source,” said Bill Marler, an attorney who has represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness outbreaks, including 93 victims of the most recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak traced to contaminated spinach, 30 victims of a Salmonella outbreak traced to foods served at an Indiana Wal-Mart this summer, and 128 victims of a 2004 Salmonella outbreak traced to contaminated tomatoes served at Sheetz convenience stores.