By: IndoUS Tribune Health Desk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class I recall—the agency’s most serious level of alert—for specific fresh tomatoes due to potential contamination with salmonella, a dangerous foodborne pathogen. The recall affects products from Williams Farm Repack LLC and Ray & Mascari Inc., with warnings of a “reasonable probability” of serious illness or death if consumed.

Tomatoes from Williams Farm Repack LLC were distributed in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, marked with lot numbers R4467 and R4470 under labels for Williams Farm Repack or H&C Farms.
Ray & Mascari Inc., based in Indianapolis, recalled 4-count vine-ripe tomatoes in clamshells and other bulk packs distributed across Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These tomatoes carry lot numbers RM 250420 to RM 250427.

Salmonella infection poses a major health risk, particularly to young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Symptoms often include fever, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, the infection may spread to the bloodstream, leading to severe complications such as arterial infections, endocarditis, or arthritis.

As of now, no illnesses have been linked to the recalled tomatoes. However, due to the serious risk, the FDA urges consumers to not eat the affected tomatoes. They should be discarded immediately or returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers are advised to check recent tomato purchases and stay alert to food safety notices.