FDA issues top-level warning over potentially contaminated tomatoes in three U.S. states

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class I recall — its most serious level — for tomatoes distributed in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

The tomatoes, sold under the H&C Farms label between April 23 and April 28, may be contaminated with Salmonella, a bacteria that can cause serious illness or death. The recall was initially voluntary in early May, but was escalated on June 2 due to the potential severity of the risk.

According to the FDA, Salmonella can survive weeks in dry environments and months in moist ones, including freezers.

While no illnesses have been confirmed, the warning applies to tomatoes sold in packages as small as three units and as large as 11 kilograms. The source of contamination remains unknown, and the distributor, Williams Farms Repack, has not commented.

People most at risk include children under 5, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems. The FDA advises all consumers to avoid tomatoes from the affected batch, regardless of health status.

Salmonella causes over 1 million illnesses and 400 deaths in the U.S. each year, with symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

source: nytimes.com

photo: usatoday.com