Health authorities have issued the highest risk level to tomatoes recalled for potentially containing deadly bacteria.
Last month, Williams Farms Repack LLC voluntarily recalled several sizes of its vine ripe tomatoes after they were found to potentially contain salmonella.
On Wednesday, the FDA gave the recall a Class I designation, its most dangerous classification.
This means ‘there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
The recall covers shipments from April 23 to April 28 sold in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Affected products were sold in the following packaging formats: 5×6 25lb, 6×6 25lb, Combo 25lb, 4×4 2layer, 4×5 2layer, 60ct 2layer, 60ct 18lb loose, XL 18lb Loose and 3ct trays with UPC 0 33383 65504 8.
The lot numbers are R4467 and R4470.
No illnesses have been reported, but salmonella can cause serious and fatal illnesses in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
Health authorities have issued their most serious warning about tomatoes that could be contaminated with salmonella
Affected products were sold in a variety of packages. Pictured above is one of the packages recalled
Wilson Farms Repack initiated the recall after Southeast Tomato Distributors notified it of a potential salmonella contamination from H&C Farms.
The FDA has urged customers to discard any affected tomatoes. Products may be returned for a full refund or disposed of.
Customers with questions can contact Jason Breland at 843-866-7707 or 843-599-5154 from 8am to 5pm ET Monday to Friday.
Salmonella is caused by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.
It typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after initial infection, according to the CDC.
Unlike most bacteria, once consumed some strains of salmonella can survive the stomach acid and travel into the intestines.
Once there, they burrow into the cells lining the organ, causing inflammation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. The bacteria may also enter the bloodstream and travel to other organs.
Most people recover within days, though the illness is responsible for more than 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year.