Tomatoes sold in 11 states voluntarily recalled due to potential salmonella contamination
An Indiana company is voluntarily recalling tomatoes on the vine due to potential contamination with salmonella bacteria.
Ray & Mascari Inc., a tomato repacking company in Indianapolis, announced the recall May 2 and said its 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes, which were packaged in plastic clamshell containers, may have been exposed to the bacteria in a supplier facility.
Consumers in possession of any recalled 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes are being advised to throw out the tomatoes and not eat them.
In its recall announcement, which was published on the Food and Drug Administration website May 3, the Indiana company said it began the recall process after it was notified by its supplier Hanshaw & Capling Farms of Immokalee, Florida, that the latter company was recalling a lot of vine tomatoes Ray & Mascari Inc. had received and repacked under its own label. According to Ray & Mascari Inc.'s announcement, Hanshaw & Capling Farms initiated its recall after detecting the possible presence of salmonella in its facility.
"Customers who received the recalled lots have been notified and provided information to further contact their customers and distribution centers with recall instructions," that announcement read.
The recalled tomatoes were packaged in four-count clamshell containers weighing 20 ounces (1 pound, 4 ounces) or 567 grams, according to the announcement. They bear the UPC number 7 96553 20062 1 "and a master case label with Lot# RM250424 15250B or Lot# RM250427 15250B."
The recalled products have a label that reads "VINE RIPE TOMATOES" along with the words "Packed by Ray & Mascari Inc., Indianapolis, IN 46204." They were sold by Gordon Food Service Stores in 11 states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
According to Ray & Mascari Inc., no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the recall.
Customers with questions or those who wish to report an illness can contact Ray & Mascari Inc. at (317) 637-0234, Monday through Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause illness and is one of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. and around the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is most often spread through food but can also spread through water, animals, people and other ways, the agency states.
Symptoms of a salmonella infection include abdominal pain, fever, headache, watery diarrhea that may also have blood or mucus, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
"Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after infection and usually last 4 to 7 days," the CDC states.
Most people recover without treatment after four to seven days. Some, particularly children younger than 5 and adults 65 years and older, or people with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
ABC News has reached out to Ray & Mascari Inc. for comment on the recall.
The owner of Hanshaw & Capling Farms declined to comment when reached by ABC News.
