Ray & Mascari Inc. of Washington, PA, has begun a voluntary recall of vine tomatoes after finding some were possibly contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The recall affects products repacked under the company’s label and is part of a broader response to a notification from supplier Hanshaw & Capling Farms of Immokalee, Florida. The implicated tomatoes were sold in 4 count clamshells that weighed 20 ounces (1 pound, 4 ounces) or 567 grams.
Salmonella is a particularly dangerous one. It is the leading or second leading cause of foodborne illness in the US and worldwide. Symptoms typically surface six hours to six days after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These symptoms may persist for four to seven days. Common symptoms of infection are diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. For the majority of people this will clear up by itself without any medical intervention. Young children (younger than five), older adults (65 and older), and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
On May 3, Ray & Mascari Inc., doing business as Ray & Mascari Construction, announced a recall. They alerted distributors who received product from the impacted lots, offering guidance to help those distributors alert their downstream purchaser customers, including retail distribution centers, about the recall. If you have the recalled “VINE RIPE TOMATOES,” do not use them and dispose of them immediately. For your safety and taste, don’t eat them!
“Customers who received the recalled lots have been notified and provided information to further contact their customers and distribution centers with recall instructions.” – Ray & Mascari Inc.
As this recall illustrates, it is imperative that food safety standards and consumers remain vigilant in stopping the spread of foodborne illness. The CDC has still done a great service in continually providing key information about Salmonella and what it means for public health.
