A routine produce recall has turned critical as the FDA has upgraded a tomato recall to a Class I health alert, citing a deadly risk of salmonella contamination. This classification—the most serious level of recall—means there’s a reasonable probability that consuming the affected tomatoes could cause severe illness or death.
The recall was initiated by Williams Farms Repack LLC, based in South Carolina, and includes tomatoes distributed between April 23 and 28 to Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The products were sold under the Williams Farms Repack and H&C Farms labels in multiple packaging formats and lot codes, most notably R4467 and R4470.
Affected Products:
- 25 lb boxes (5×6, 6×6, Combo)
- 2-layer cartons (4×4, 4×5, 60-count)
- 18 lb loose tomatoes (60-count, XL)
- 3-count trays (UPC 0 33383 65504 8)
Salmonella infection can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, typically starting within 6 hours to 6 days after exposure. While many recover in under a week, the infection can be deadly for infants, seniors, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
Although the tomatoes are no longer in stores, the FDA warns that Salmonella can survive for weeks in dry conditions and even longer in moist environments, making it crucial to inspect your kitchen and discard any potentially contaminated tomatoes immediately.
Consumers can return affected products for a full refund. For the safety of you and your family, don’t take chances—if in doubt, throw it out.
