The D.C. Department of Health is testing tomatoes in local restaurants for Salmonella Saintpaul bacteria after the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers it recently linked the fruit to 145 cases of food poisoning in at least 16 states.

At least 23 people have been hospitalized since mid-April when the outbreak of salmonellosis began.

The McDonalds and Subway restaurant chains, among others, stopped serving raw tomato slices yesterday, citing FDA recommendations. The decision is “precautionary,” McDonalds said in a statement.

While most of the cases arose in Texas and New Mexico, two have surfaced in Virginia in the past two weeks — one in the northeast near D.C. and the other in southern Virginia, said Michelle Peregoy, public relations director for the Virginia Department of Health.

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So far no cases have been identified or bacteria found in D.C., said LaShon Seastrunk, D.C. DOH interim director of communications. The department is still waiting for the results of the tests conducted at local eateries.

The FDA recommends consumers stop eating raw large tomatoes, such as Roma and round red, as they are the probable source of the bacteria.

Smaller tomatoes such as cherry and grape, as well as tomatoes sold with the vine attached or grown at home, are not likely to be a bacteria source and are safe to eat, the agency said.

Salmonella infections can be serious, even fatal, particularly for young children, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

There is no way for consumers to detect salmonella, but cooking tomatoes at 145 degrees will kill the bacteria.

The Associated Press and Bloomberg contributed to this story.