FDA Upgrades Recall of Potentially Bacteria-Contaminated Tomatoes in 3 States

The tomatoes were recalled over a possible salmonella contamination, while the FDA upgraded the recall to Class I.

Tomatoes in a stock photo. Shutterstock

The Food and Drug Administration upgraded a recall of tomatoes in several states to its most severe, Class I, due to the risk of a potentially deadly salmonella contamination.

The affected tomatoes were distributed to Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina between April 23 and April 28, the FDA said in a notice last month. The recall was upped to Class I on May 28, according to an FDA notice.

A Class I recall is defined by the FDA as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

No illnesses have been reported to the FDA, according to its earlier notice.

The FDA said that the affected products include tray-packed and bulk tomatoes, which were packaged under H&C Farms and Williams Farms Repack labels. A list of products and their sizes can be found on the FDA website. The recall was voluntarily initiated by Williams Farms after it was notified on April 29 that tomatoes supplied by H&C could be contaminated with salmonella.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to not consume the products and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or they may discard the product,” the FDA notice said.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause a number of symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, stomach cramps, and dehydration, U.S. health authorities say. Most people recover within a week without any treatment, but some individuals can face more severe symptoms, including older people, young children, and those with weak immune systems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in rare cases, salmonella can infect the blood, joints, nervous system, the brain or spinal fluid, and the urinary tract. Such complications can lead to death or hospitalization.

“Some people with salmonella infection develop pain in their joints, called reactive arthritis, after the infection has ended,” the CDC says. “Reactive arthritis can last for months or years and can be difficult to treat. Some people with reactive arthritis develop irritation of the eyes and pain when urinating.”

Symptoms generally start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria, while most people recover without treatment between four and seven days, according to health officials.

The FDA update on the recall follows separately issued warnings by the CDC and FDA over recalled cucumbers, sold in multiple states, that were linked to an outbreak of salmonella. The outbreak has, so far, sickened at least 45 people across 18 states, with 16 requiring hospitalization, officials said.

Several companies have issued recalls for whole cucumbers and cucumbers used in a range of sandwiches, salsas, and other foods linked to the outbreak. Target recalled dozens of products, including whole cucumbers, salads, and vegetable rolls.

Meanwhile, the CDC last week issued a warning on an outbreak of salmonella illness linked to backyard poultry such as chickens and ducks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.