A pile of tomatoes is seen on display at a wholesale produce market in Washington, June 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhuanet) -- There is no evidence to suggest that Mexico produce has had anything to do with the ongoing salmonella outbreak in the United States, media reports Monday quoted local officials as saying.

    Mexico has not been told of any U.S. plans to expand a probe into Mexican produce beginning on Monday as reported by CNN on Thursday, said Mexican agriculture ministry spokesman Marco Antonio Sifuentes.

    U.S. health officials are struggling to find out the source of the contamination, the official added.

    With tomatoes still the prime suspect, U.S. officials have expanded the investigation to include produce commonly eaten with them like cilantro, jalapeno peppers, serrano peppers, scallions and bulb onions.

    Mexico has not detected salmonella in any of these products, Sifuentes said.

    According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak of salmonella Saintpaul has resulted in 943 cases of illnesses nationwide in 40 states and District of Columbia and at least 130 hospitalizations have been reported since mid-April.

    U.S. inspectors are currently in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa taking samples at tomato farms to try to verify Mexican claims no salmonella is present there, Sifuentes said.

    Salmonella rarely causes death, but diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. The illness can be a risk for young children, the elderly and those who have had their immune system compromised.

(Agencies)