[Kim_Bruning]

Huh, here's where my knowledge ends. In theory aerobic composting would run up the temperature of the compost, thus killing most pathogens. In practice clearly not, then.

Is it because composting is not always done perfectly? Or is it because some tomato pathogens intrinsically survive the process due to eg. heat resistance?

[petre]

Dunno, it's just a bad idea. The pathogens can survive in the ground over several seasons, so I'm not surprised if they also survive in the compost. It's not only bacteria and viruses but also fungi. Best practice is to use pathogen free soil and compost, crop rotation. There is even a warning against composting rotten potatoes (related to tomatoes) for avoiding late blight.

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/tomato-diseases-disorders...