You're the perfect audience, aren't you? 
What I get is that they don't have a fershluganah clew - they're grasping at straws. A few people who got sick said they'd eaten tomatoes. That was their entire intake of food? Tomatoes for breakfast, tomatoes for lunch, tomatoes for dinner? Me no believe.
I live to serve
Actually the tomato link is based on commonality - what one raw food-stuff did the majority of victims ingest. (Without even gathering data you could probably guess lettuce, tomato or spinach.) Unfortunately today's hyper-world demands answers, NOW. They want to fix the blame. Imagine the uproar if the scientists issued a candid Press Release saying "Beats us; we don't have a fershluganah clew - but we're working on it." You really need to watch a press conference or two and see how the reporters "push" the experts to get good quotes.
Q. What caused this outbreak.
A. It could be one of many things; right now we're looking at raw tomatoes.
Q. So raw tomatoes are the killers?
A. Well, at the moment they seem the most likely candidate.
Q. Is it true that the tomatoes came from Mexico?
A. Well, we believe Mexico was the source of at least some of the product.
Q. Could terrorists have poisoned the fruit?
A. We have no evidence to suggest terrorist involvement.
Q. Can you state for a certainty that terrorists were not involved.
A. Well, no.
Q. Should we all stop eating tomatoes.
A. We still haven't fixed to source with any certainty.
Q. But if tomatoes are the cause, would not eating tomatoes help avoid sickness.
A. Well, yes.
HEADLINE:
MEXICAN TERRORIST TOMATO PLOT?: Scientists aren't sure if terrorists poisoned Mexican tomatoes imported to US - suggest not eating tomatoes is a good way to remain healthy.
der Brucer
