Tomatoes recalled over fears of potential to cause fatal infections
Tomatoes distributed to 14 US states have been recalled over fears of salmonella contamination.
Williams Farms Repack LLC on Friday issued a recall of several of its tomato sizes over reports they could be affected with the foodborne illness.
Salmonella is an ‘organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems’, according to the US Food and Drug Administration advisory.
The tomatoes were distributed from April 23 to April 28 to distributors and wholesalers in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Tomatoes in nine different product sizes including 4×5 2 layer, 60ct 2layer and 3ct trays with the Williams Farms Repack label, and 5×6 25lb and 6×6 25lb with the H&C Farms label, are impacted.
Southeast Tomato Distributors notified the company on April 29 that some of the items from H&C Farms could have salmonella.
Healthy people infected with salmonella may experience symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and fever. Rare cases can result in arterial infections, arthritis and endocarditis.
There have not been any reports of consumers becoming sickened from the tomatoes.
Consumers are urged not to eat the tomatoes and toss them or return them for refunds.
On Saturday, a day after Williams Farms Repack announced its recall, Indianapolis, Indiana-based Ray & Mascari Inc began recalling its 4 Count Ripe Tomatoes also for possible salmonella contamination.
They have a label that reads ‘Vine Ripe Tomatoes’.
The tomatoes were sold by Gordon Food Service Stores in 11 states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
No one has reported illness related to consuming the tomatoes.
The recalls come at the same time that Organico Realfoods recalled its Organic Alla Norma Sauce made of tomato, aubergines and garlic, over fears they have glass fragments.
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