Nancy Luna, otherwise known as the Fast Food Maven at the OC Register, has developed a true appreciation for tomatoes in the midst of the latest food recall. A recent trip to El Pollo Loco inspired this realization:

The torta-inspired meal was supposed to include pico de gallo. But, the chain had to debut the sandwich without the fresh salsa. Other fresh-Mex chains that have removed raw tomatoes from foods include Taco Mesa, Tacos & Co., Chipotle and Baja Fresh. (at right, Baja Fresh’s salsa bar is missing two fresh salsas made with chopped tomatoes.)

As a substitute, an El Pollo Loco employee gave me a — hold your breath — packet of hot sauce to put on the sandwich. I gasped.

Packet hot sauce? No way. I would not resort to liquid tomato sauce.

A world without salsa is a very sad margarita-imbibing world, indeed.

Related: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Salmonella Outbreak

Photo by tanakawho via Flickr