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Take warning—a salmonella scare just hit your local produce section.
Just as tomato season is heating up, a major recall is throwing a wrench in Raleigh’s summer cooking game. From caprese salads to BLTs, your go-to seasonal dishes might be on the chopping block, thanks to potentially salmonella-contaminated tomatoes shipped to NC, SC and Georgia between April 23–28.
The FDA escalated a May recall from Williams Farms Repack LLC to Class I status—aka the most severe warning. Translation? The tomatoes in question could cause “serious adverse health consequences or death.”
In Raleigh, that means your grocery haul from big-box stores to local distributors could be affected. It’s recommended to avoid H&C Farms and Williams Farms Repack labels and keep your eyes peeled specifically for lot codes R4467 or R4470, or a three-count package with UPC 033383655048. Don’t second guess it—ditch or return your tomatoes for a full refund, as salmonella is no joke.
Symptoms can hit anywhere from six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria, and can last four to seven days (!). All the scaries, from fever and cramps to full-on gastrointestinal regret, are common—and while most healthy folks bounce back in under a week, the illness can be especially dangerous for kids, seniors and anyone with weakened immune systems.
Unfortunately, this round of red flags isn’t the only recall rolling through the region—Ray & Mascari Inc. also recalled vine-ripes recently, affecting states further West and North.
That said, there have been no confirmed cases linked to the tomatoes in NC yet, but stay cautious (no sandwich is worth salmonella!) and take this as your sign to hit the State Farmers Market or your fave fruit and veggie pop-up instead. A summer tomato salad or sandwich is sacred—just make sure yours isn’t a health hazard. For full details, stay tuned to FDA updates.
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