In sad circumstances, America seems to be the country of contaminated food, as the FDA announced another recall that affects American families in 11 states. This time it is tomatoes.
Ray & Mascari Inc. has issued a multi-state recall of its “4-Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes” due to salmonella contamination concerns.
This raises questions about the food safety oversight, especially since inflation already makes groceries unaffordable for millions.
The Indianapolis-based company’s tomatoes were sold in plastic clamshell containers across eleven states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Gordon Food Service Stores distributed the potentially dangerous products, which can be identified by their UPC number 7 96553 20062 1, on packaging weighing 1 pound 4 ounces.
While no illnesses have yet been reported in connection with these tomatoes, the pull was only initiated after Hanshaw & Capling Farms of Immokalee, Florida, warned about possible salmonella contamination.
The 4-count plastic clamshells have specific lot numbers for identification.
According to the announcement, “The master case label includes Lot# RM250424 15250B or Lot# RM250427 15250B and displays ‘VINE RIPE TOMATOES’ with a ‘Packed by Ray & Mascari Inc., Indianapolis, IN 46204’ notice.
The FDA warned that Salmonella can be especially dangerous for vulnerable populations. The recall notice states the bacteria can “cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.”
“Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain,” the agency said.
In addition, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses, such as arterial infections (e.g., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.
This pull comes amidst an unsettling pattern of food safety issues across the country. Just days earlier, Williams Farms Repack LLC announced a separate tomato recall affecting Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Consumers who purchased these tomatoes are advised not to eat them and instead return them to the store for a refund or dispose of them immediately.
Anyone with questions or who needs to report an illness should contact Ray & Mascari Inc. during regular business hours.
Although Americans currently struggle with record-high grocery prices, they now face the additional burden of wondering whether their food is safe.
Ultimately, the continuing pattern of food recalls raises serious questions about regulatory effectiveness and where taxpayer dollars are really going.
