In the news

The FDA reported that Ray & Mascari Inc.(Indianapolis, Indiana) recalled 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes packaged in clamshell containers [20 oz. (1 lb. 4 oz) 567g] with UPC# 7 96553 20062 1, and a master case label with Lot# RM250424 15250B or Lot# RM250427 15250B because of the potential for them to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled tomatoes were sold by Gordon Food Service Stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Ray & Mascari Inc. was notified by Hanshaw & Capling Farms of Immokalee, Florida, that they were recalling the lot of tomatoes Ray & Mascari Inc. received and repacked into 4 Count Vine Ripe Tomatoes. Hanshaw & Capling Farms initiated the recall due to the possible presence of Salmonella in their facility. The product is sold in plastic clamshells containing 4 tomatoes. The 4- 4-count plastic clam shells have a VINE RIPE TOMATOES label containing a Packed by Ray & Mascari Inc., Indianapolis, IN 46204. The master case would be a cardboard produce box with a lid containing 12 4 count containers. No illnesses have been reported to date. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ray-mascari-inc-recalls-4-count-vine-ripe-tomatoes-because-possible-health-risk

The FDA reported that Williams Farms Repack LLC (Lodge, SC) recalled Tomatoes sizes 4×5 2 layer, 60ct 2layer, 3ct trays in the Williams Farms Repack label and 5×6 25lb, 6×6 25lb H&C Farms Label due to a potential contamination of Salmonella. On April 29, 2025, Williams Farms Repack was notified via telephone by Southeast Tomato Distributors that tomatoes supplied by H&C Farms may be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date. The products were distributed between 4/23/2025 to 4/28/2025. These products were packaged and sold to wholesalers and distributors located in Georgia, North Carolina & South Carolina. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/williams-farms-repack-llc-recalls-tomatoes-due-possible-salmonella-contamination?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The USDA/FSIS issued a public health alert for retail ground beef products sold by Bismillah Halal Meats (Marietta, Ga.) that may be contaminated with E. coli O103 (STEC). A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. The raw ground beef was produced and sold directly to consumers from April 10 to 23, 2025. All products were weighed, wrapped, and labeled in-store at the time of purchase. All ground beef products produced and sold by this retailer from April 10-23, 2025, are subject to this public health alert. The problem was discovered when a sample was collected and analyzed by FSIS during retail surveillance, and the sampling results showed the presence of E. coli O103. There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to the consumption of these products. Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC, such as O103, because it is harder to identify. FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. @ 

A publication in Food Policy (Volume 132 April 2025) entitled “Economic evaluation of lettuce traceability systems in mitigating foodborne illness risks” by scientists from Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, West Virginia, reports on the economic benefits of traceability in managing foodborne illness outbreaks using lettuce as a case study. The study also assesses its sensitivity to contamination severity (quantity and virulence of the pathogen), pathogen persistence (survival of the pathogen on produce over time), and illness latency (time from exposure to symptoms of infection). Using an economic model with pathogen dose response formulation, the study simulates the economic and health impacts of E. coli contamination originating from irrigation water. The results indicate that traceability benefits range from $4 to $91 million per outbreak, depending on shelf life, contamination severity, and latency of illness symptoms. Shorter shelf lives and contamination severity amplify the benefits. Traceability reduces illness by swiftly identifying and removing contaminated produce from the supply chain. The findings highlight the cost-effectiveness of traceability systems, especially for managing frequent or severe outbreaks. The study also demonstrates the contextual sensitivity of tracing benefits that stakeholders, including producers, retailers, and policymakers, should consider. Future studies should consider alternative contexts where benefits and costs may deviate from the estimates in this study. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306919225000594