The Food and Drug Administration has escalated a tomato recall to its highest risk level due to potential salmonella contamination. Williams Farms Repack LLC initially announced the recall on May 2, but the FDA has now classified it as a Class I recall, indicating that consuming the affected tomatoes could lead to serious health consequences or even death.

The recall affects several products, including tomatoes packaged as "4x5 2 layer," "60ct 2-layer," and three-count trays under the Williams Farms Repack label. Additionally, it includes "5x6" and "6x6" 25-pound boxes of tomatoes labeled as H&C Farms. All recalled tomatoes have lot codes R4467 or R4470, and the three-pack tomatoes carry the UPC number 0 33383 65504 8.

These tomatoes were distributed between April 23 and April 28 in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The company was alerted on April 29 by Southeast Tomato Distributors about the potential contamination. As of now, no illnesses have been reported.

Salmonella is a bacteria responsible for approximately 1.35 million infections annually in the United States, with contaminated food being the primary source. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that salmonella can spread through food, water, animals, and even human contact. Symptoms of a salmonella infection typically include abdominal pain, fever, headache, and diarrhea, which may contain blood or mucus. These symptoms usually appear six hours to six days after infection and can last from four to seven days.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled tomatoes are strongly advised not to eat them. Instead, they should discard the products or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. The FDA continues to monitor the situation and has provided detailed information on its website regarding the recall.