Tomatoes are back on menus

"Situations like these continue to evolve," he said. "It's too early to say what the true economic impact is."

He predicted it would take a week for stores and restaurants to be fully resupplied with tomatoes.

Most tomatoes are absent from Ralphs shelves, chain spokesman Terry O'Neil said.

The supermarket chain pulled the three affected varieties June 8 and has returned a limited supply in certain stores of large red round tomatoes grown in Canadian hothouses. Romas are expected back on shelves in the next few days, and all other varieties of tomatoes have been ordered, O'Neil said.

Most grocery stores and restaurants have posted signs detailing the origins of the tomatoes now being sold.

At Vons, Massingill said Roma tomato shipments were accompanied by certificates that the fruit was from areas including California, Canada and approved counties in Florida. Beginning next week, stores will receive tomatoes from Baja California, Massingill said.

"There's no indication yet that there'll be a long-term effect from the outbreak, and if there is, it'll be seen throughout the industry," she said. "But if there's any way to make tracking and safety better, I'm sure we would implement it here."

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