A tomato recall first issued in May has now been upgraded to a Class I recall—the FDA’s most serious level—due to the risk of “serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The recall involves 4-count packs of Vine-Ripe Tomatoes from Indiana-based Ray & Mascari Inc., initially pulled over potential salmonella contamination. The affected tomatoes were sold at Gordon Food Service Stores in states including New York, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Mississippi.
The recalled products came in clamshell containers with UPC #7 96553 20062 1 and lot numbers RM250424 15250B or RM250427 15250B.
The FDA has now expanded the warning to include tomatoes sold under the H&C Farms label in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. These products ranged from 3-packs to 25-pound bags and were sold between April 23 and April 28.
Salmonella can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and, in rare cases, serious complications like endocarditis or arterial infections. The CDC estimates about 420 Americans die from salmonellosis each year.
Consumers are urged to check their freezers and discard any affected tomatoes immediately. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, or vomiting should seek medical attention.
Related topics:
