FDA escalates tomato recall to highest risk level over salmonella fears. Consumers urged to discard or return affected products.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has heightened the urgency of a recent tomato recall, reclassifying it as a Class I recall—the agency’s most serious level—due to the potential risk of salmonella contamination.
The updated designation signals that consuming the affected tomatoes may lead to severe health consequences or even death, according to FDA standards.
Affected Products and Lot Information
The recall, originally issued on May 2 by Williams Farms Repack LLC, has now been classified as high risk as of May 28. It includes several varieties of tomatoes under the Williams Farms Repack and H&C Farms labels:
- “4×5 2 layer”
- “60ct 2-layer”
- Three-count trays of Williams Farms Repack label tomatoes
- “5×6” and “6×6” 25-pound boxes of H&C Farms Label tomatoes
Lot codes affected: R4467 and R4470
UPC (for 3-pack trays): 0 33383 65504 8
The products were distributed between April 23 and April 28 across Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Origin of the Recall
According to the company’s statement, Southeast Tomato Distributors alerted Williams Farms Repack on April 29 that certain tomatoes supplied by H&C Farms may have been contaminated with salmonella.
“No illnesses have been reported to date,” the company clarified in its announcement.
Understanding the Risk: What Is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a type of bacteria responsible for approximately 1.35 million infections annually in the United States, most commonly through contaminated food, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms of infection may include:
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Watery or bloody diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
Symptoms typically emerge 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and can last up to a week.
What Should Consumers Do?
The FDA urges anyone who has purchased these tomatoes to not consume them. Instead, they should dispose of the product or return it to the store of purchase for a full refund.
Consumers are advised to check for lot codes R4467 or R4470 and the listed UPC number to confirm if their purchase is part of the recall.
ABC News has reached out to Williams Farms Repack LLC for further comment.
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