CDC announces Salmonella poultry outbreak as FDA issues Salmonella tomato recalls

Two government agencies are warning Americans about threats from Salmonella outbreaks this week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cautioned about a multi-state outbreak of the potentially deadly bacteria in poultry, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted two recall notices about tomatoes that are feared to be tainted with Salmonella.

Although the poultry and tomato salmonella outbreaks are not reported to be linked, each should be taken seriously given the threat that Salmonella infections can pose. Here’s what you need to know about the Salmonella outbreak and recalls.

CDC announces Salmonella outbreak linked to poultry

On May 5, the CDC issued an investigation notice confirming a multi-state outbreak of the potentially deadly bacteria.

The outbreak is believed to be linked to human contact with backyard poultry, including chickens and ducks. The agency says that two individuals who became sick “reported obtaining poultry from agricultural retail stores” beforehand.

However, an individual does not need to consume poultry to become infected with Salmonella. The CDC says that simply touching infected birds, supplies the animals have come into contact with, or the eggs they have laid is enough to contract the bacteria.

The CDC says that between February 9 and March 24, 2025, seven people across six states have been confirmed to have been infected with Salmonella. The illnesses occurred in the following states:

• Utah: 1
• South Dakota: 1
• Wisconsin: 1
• Illinois: 1
• Missouri: 2
• Florida: 1

However, the CDC says that the number of sick individuals is likely much higher. That’s because many people who become infected with Salmonella get sick and recover fully at home without ever reporting the illness to health authorities. 

The CDC also notes that it usually takes between three and four weeks to determine if a sick individual is part of an outbreak, which means the agency’s current numbers may be lagging behind the actual number of cases up to this point in time.

FDA posts Salmonella-linked tomato recalls

Separately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has posted recall notices on its website for tomatoes that are feared to possibly be contaminated with Salmonella. There is no indication that the tomato recalls and the poultry outbreak are linked.

On May 3, the FDA published a recall notice from Ray & Mascari Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana. The voluntary recall covers the company’s 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes product. The tomatoes were acquired from a Florida provider who discovered that they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled product is as follows:

• Brand Name: Ray & Mascari Inc.
• Product name: 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes
• Package: clam shell containers [20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz) 567g]
• UPC: 7 96553 20062 1
• Lot numbers: Lot# RM250424 15250B or Lot# RM250427 15250B

The recalled tomatoes were sold by Gordon Food Service Stores in eleven states:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Wisconsin

On May 2, the FDA published a recall notice from Williams Farms Repack LLC of Lodge, South Carolina, for some of its tomato products over fears they could be contaminated with salmonella.

The tomato products were sold in multiple package sizes under the brand name H&C Farms Label. The full list of products affected by this recall can be found here.

The products covered under this recall were sold to wholesalers and distributors between 4/23/2025 and 4/28/2025. They were sold in the following states:

• Georgia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina

There is currently no indication that the two tomato recalls are linked, nor is there any indication that they are linked to the multi-state poultry Salmonella outbreak.

Consumers who believe they may have the recalled tomatoes should read the respective recall notices carefully for instructions on what to do.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterium that can make you very sick if ingested. According to the CDC, the symptoms of Salmonella can include:

• Watery diarrhea that might have blood or mucus
• Stomach cramps that can be severe
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite

The agency says that symptoms can begin anywhere from six hours to six days after infection. Symptoms can last for anywhere between four and seven days.

While many people can recover without treatment, some may require hospitalization. In certain cases, Salmonella infections can cause death. The illness can be particularly troublesome for people who have weakened immune systems, are 65 or older, or are younger than 5.

In 2024, there were several significant Salmonella outbreaks, including a backyard poultry outbreak in May of that year that sickened more than 100 people and an outbreak reported in September linked to eggs that sickened at least 65 people.