St. Louis Company Recalls Tomatoes over Salmonella Fears
On behalf of Brown & Crouppen, P.C. posted in Defective Products on Thursday, December 15, 2011
Front Row Produce, a St. Louis company that supplies fruits and vegetables to restaurant wholesalers and retail stores, recently announced a recall of grape tomatoes due to a risk that the tomatoes were contaminated with salmonella. The recall affects stores in Missouri and Illinois, where the tainted tomatoes were shipped.
The grape tomatoes were grown by a Front Row Produce supplier in Texas. The affected tomatoes were packaged in 10-ounce pint boxes and in 10-pound bulk packages. Random testing by the supplier turned up signs of contamination, Front Row Produce said. The supplier halted production of grape tomatoes while it and the Food and Drug Administration investigated how the contamination occurred.
To avoid confusion, non-contaminated grape tomatoes from Front Row Produce sold in grocery stores will have a green sticker with a lot number printed on it attached to the package. Any package that does not have a sticker should be considered part of the recall and its contents should not be consumed.
Salmonella poisoning can cause symptoms within eight hours to three days after consuming tainted produce. In healthy adults, typical symptoms include cramps, diarrhea and fever. Illness usually lasts about a week and requires the sickened person to drink plenty of fluids. However, those with weakened immune symptoms are at risk of fatal illness due to salmonella.
Anyone who is unsure if he or she purchased tainted grape tomatoes or has another question about the recall may call Front Row Produce at the number listed in the linked article below.
Source: USA TODAY, “Grape tomatoes recalled over salmonella concern,” Dec. 2, 2011