FDA Issues Highest Alert for Tomato Recall Due to Salmonella Risk

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has upgraded a tomato recall announced last month in three southern states to its most severe warning due to a potential salmonella contamination.

A “Class 1” recall is the FDA’s highest recall designation for health hazards, meaning there is a “reasonable” probability that the product in question will cause “serious adverse health consequences or death.”

The recall, initially announced in May, is for tomatoes from Williams Farms Repack, LLC, which were shipped to Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina between April 23 and 28.

The impacted products include three-count packages, 10-pound boxes, 25-pound boxes and 60-count two-layer boxes, the FDA said.

Although no illnesses have been reported, the agency is urging consumers to either return the tomatoes for a full refund or discard them.

Salmonella is one of the world’s leading causes of foodborne illnesses, and can cause a range of gastrointestinal issues and fever. 

The bacteria that causes it typically spreads when people eat raw or undercooked foods, and can be transmitted by food handlers who do not wash their hands properly, as well as the surfaces and tools they use in food preparation. 

It can spread from animals to people, with those most at risk including children younger than 5, elderly people and those with immunocompromised systems, the FDA said.

Symptoms of salmonella — including diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps — typically begin 12-72 hours after infection and last up to a week. 

Most people are able to recover without requiring treatment, but in some cases the illness can be fatal.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that as many as 450 salmonella-related deaths occur every year in the U.S.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue