Tomatoes Sold in 14 States Recalled Due to Salmonella Fears

Infections of this bacteria can be fatal for young children, elderly people, and individuals with weak immunity.

An image of the label used on recalled tomatoes sold by Indiana-based Ray & Mascari Inc. FDA

Two companies have recalled several lots of tomatoes sold in 14 states over possible contamination with Salmonella, a bacteria that poses health risks to consumers.

Indiana-based Ray & Mascari Inc. is withdrawing “Vine Ripe” branded tomatoes sold by Gordon Food Service Stores in 11 states—Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, the company said in a May 3 recall announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Meanwhile, South Carolina-based Williams Farms Repack LLC is pulling out tomatoes from three states—Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina—said a company announcement published by the FDA on May 2.

Hanshaw & Capling Farms in Florida informed repacker Ray & Mascari that the products they received were being withdrawn due to the possible presence of salmonella bacteria at Hanshaw’s facility.

“Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain,” said the FDA announcement.

“In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.”

The Ray & Mascari recalled items are packaged in clamshell containers with UPC# 7 96553 20062 1 as well as in master case cardboard boxes with Lot# RM250424 15250B or Lot# RM250427 15250B.

So far, no injuries have been reported. Customers should discard any of these items, the company said.

Those who have further questions can contact Ray & Mascari Inc. at 1-317-637-0234.

As for the Williams Farms Repack tomato recall, it came after the company was alerted on April 29 of Salmonella contamination. The products were distributed between April 23 and 28.

No illnesses linked to the product have been reported so far. The company urged people to either discard the tomatoes or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the companies for comment.

Salmonella Regulation

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.35 million infections in the United States annually are linked to Salmonella, with contaminated food being the source of most of the illnesses.

Salmonella “are a leading cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide,” it states.

“Chicken is a major source of Salmonella infection. In fact, more than 1 in every 25 packages of chicken at the grocery store is contaminated with Salmonella.”

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) had proposed a rule in August 2024 mandating poultry companies to limit the presence of Salmonella in their products.

On April 25, FSIS published a notice saying it was withdrawing the Biden-era proposal. The decision came after the agency reviewed more than 7,000 public comments on the issue.

The rule would have required poultry companies to keep Salmonella presence in their products below a specific threshold. The proposed regulation listed six strains of Salmonella, three found in chicken and three in turkey.

“While FSIS continues to support the goal of reducing Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products, the Agency believes that the comments have raised several important issues that warrant further consideration,” the agency said in the withdrawal notice.

In January, Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) introduced a bill seeking to prevent the USDA from using federal funds to carry out its proposed rule on Salmonella, the lawmaker’s office said in a Jan. 23 statement.

The regulation is “not based in science nor indicates a major impact on consumer health,” it said, adding that more than 97 percent of chickens had tested negative for salmonella in 2022.

“My bill blocks USDA from using taxpayer dollars to implement arbitrary science to burden American families, and it protects America’s livestock producers who work day in and day out to feed a hungry world,” Mann said.

The bill was referred to the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry on Feb. 28.