Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a high-level food safety warning regarding certain batches of whole tomatoes distributed across three states. These tomatoes, produced by Williams Farms Repack LLC, may be contaminated with Salmonella—a common but potentially dangerous bacterium. The affected products have already reached markets in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Salmonella isn’t just a minor food bug. It can cause serious illness, especially in vulnerable groups like young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever. In severe cases, it can lead to systemic infections or even death.
The recall affects several packaging formats under the brands Williams Farms Repack and H&C Farms, including 25-pound boxes, two-layer packs, and three-count trays. If you have any of the following lot codes—R4467 or R4470—or UPC 0 33383 65504 8 on your tomatoes, you should immediately stop using them and dispose of them safely.
Some may wonder: how much damage can a tomato really do? But real-life cases remind us that the threat is very real. In 2021, Marilyn, a retired teacher from New Jersey, cooked up her usual tomato-based pasta dish. Hours later, she was experiencing stomach pain and a high fever. Thinking it was just a common cold, she delayed seeing a doctor—until three days later, she was hospitalized and diagnosed with a Salmonella infection traced back to raw tomatoes.
Such scenarios are more common than many think. Salmonella bacteria can survive in cool environments like refrigerators and thrive once inside the human digestive system. And unlike some other pathogens, the presence of Salmonella doesn’t affect a tomato’s appearance or smell—making contaminated produce nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye.
The FDA’s “Class I” classification for this recall is its highest level of concern. That designation means there is a “reasonable probability” that consuming the product will cause serious health consequences or death. In other words, this is not just a routine warning—it’s based on solid risk assessments and demands urgent public attention.
For consumers, how should we react to such a recall? First, stay informed. Follow FDA updates or check with local health departments. Second, always retain food packaging labels and lot numbers when possible. Many of us unpack produce and toss the box, unknowingly discarding the only reference that could help in an emergency like this.
Third, take food washing more seriously. While cooking can kill Salmonella, many people consume tomatoes raw—in salads, sandwiches, or fresh sauces. In Texas, Emily, a mother of three, shared on social media that she soaks every tomato in a baking soda solution before rinsing under cold water. “It takes a few extra minutes,” she said, “but it’s way cheaper than an ER visit.”
If you or someone in your household starts showing symptoms—such as diarrhea lasting more than two days, a fever over 102°F, dehydration, or blood in stool or urine—don’t delay medical care. According to CDC data, Salmonella causes an estimated 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations, and over 400 deaths annually in the U.S.
From a public health standpoint, food safety is not just a matter of government enforcement—it also depends on individual awareness. While the U.S. recall system is robust, its effectiveness hinges on whether warnings reach individual households.
So if you live in Georgia, North Carolina, or South Carolina and recently bought tomatoes from Williams Farms Repack or H&C Farms, now is the time to double-check your kitchen. If you're unsure, it’s better to toss the produce than take the risk. You can always cook another pasta dinner—but you can’t undo a foodborne infection once it’s taken hold.
Food safety may seem like a distant, bureaucratic concern. But in reality, it lives in our everyday choices: what we buy, how we store, and how we prepare. With a little extra care and attention, we can all protect our health—one tomato at a time.