As the warmer weather settles in, fresh produce is at the forefront of one’s mind. And nothing screams the warmer weather quite like a juicy, ripe tomato. Yet, before you start slicing and prepping a fresh tomato for your next recipe, you might want to check if it’s been recalled.
At the beginning of this month, the Indiana-based company Ray & Mascari Inc. did a large recall of their 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes packaged in clamshell containers. Testing revealed that a batch of tomatoes contained salmonella. This dangerous bacteria can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In some cases, it can get into the bloodstream and can cause dangerous life-threatening illnesses like arterial infections (also known as infected aneurysms), endocarditis (an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart), and long-term illnesses like arthritis. Those who are young, old, or have compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk of contracting the worst symptoms of salmonella.
The recall occurred because the farm supplying Ray & Mascari Inc., Hanshaw & Capling Farms in Immokalee, Florida, found salmonella in the lot they had given to the company. These tomatoes have been distributed to several states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, via the food distributor Gordon Food Service Stores.
The tomatoes in question were packaged in a 20-ounce (1 pound 4 ounces or 567 grams) shell container with the UPC# 7 96553 20062 1 and a master case label with Lot# RM250424 15250B or Lot# RM250427 15250B.
While there haven’t been any reported illnesses, customers who had purchased these tomatoes are advised to discard them. If there are concerns, contact Ray & Mascari Inc. at 1-317-637-0234, Monday through Saturday, from 6am to 5pm EST. Further updates can be found at the FDA’s site here.