Tomatoes Recalled In 4 Southern States Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

Before you whip up a batch of fresh salsa for your Cinco De Mayo celebrations or decide to pop a Cracker-Crust Tomato Pie in the oven, you may want to check the label on your recent tomato purchase.

On May 2, Ray & Mascari, Inc. announced a recall of Four-Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes packaged in plastic clamshell containers due to the potential of the tomatoes being contaminated with Salmonella.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the recalled tomatoes were sold by Gordon Food Service stores in Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee, along with seven other states outside the South. 

The tomatoes originally came from Hanshaw & Capling Farms of Immokalee, Florida, who notified Ray & Mascari, Inc. that the produce they had received and repacked could have come into contact with Salmonella in the Hanshaw & Capling Farms facility. According to the recall, all distribution customers who received the recalled tomatoes “have been notified and provided information to further contact their customers and distribution centers with recall instructions.”

If you recently purchased vine-ripened tomatoes in plastic clamshell packaging, here’s what to look for on the label:

• Packed by Ray & Mascari, Inc., Indianapolis, IN 46204
• 20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz) 567g package
• UPC code of 7 96553 20062 1

The master case (a cardboard produce box with a lid) contains 12 four-count containers with a lot number of RM250424 15250B or RM250427 15250B. 

If you have purchased ​​the recalled tomatoes, Ray & Mascari, Inc. urges customers to throw away and not consume. Salmonella can cause serious, sometimes fatal, infections in those with weakened immune systems and severe symptoms in others. So far, there have not been any illnesses reported with this recall to date. (Let’s keep it that way!)

If you’re worried about your recent tomato purchase, opt for individual tomatoes at your local grocer or choose early-season tomatoes from your farmers’ market. Tomatoes begin to show up in full bounty come late May and June, meaning that you’ll have heirlooms on your counter soon enough. Of course, you could also plant a few seedlings yourself.