Health Department Announces Cherry Tomato Recall

Capital City Fruit, Inc. of Norwalk, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling cherry tomatoes shipped by Rio Queen Citrus Inc. on Nov. 10, according to a Kane County Health Department press release. 

Capital City Fruit, Inc. received notification from Rio Queen Citrus, Inc. following the discovery of Salmonella by the Food and Drug Administration in random testing of an incoming load of cherry tomatoes. There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the items listed in this recall.

Cherry tomatoes associated with the Rio Queen Citrus, Inc. recall received on November 12, 2012 and used in the packaging of certain lots of Capital Brand Clamshell Cherry tomatoes have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  These cherry tomatoes were shipped to retail stores from November 14, 2012 through November 18, 2012, according to the news release. 

Capital City Fruit, Inc. is issuing this voluntary recall linked to the Rio Queen Citrus, Inc.'s recall to minimize any risk to public health. The recalled product was sold in retail stores in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Capital City Fruit, Inc. has notified the retailers who have received the recalled product and directed them to remove it from their store shelves. Consumers who purchased affected products listed in the table below should not consume them and should destroy or discard them.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

More information about food safety is available on the Health Department’s Website at kanehealth.com/food_safety.htm. Consumers may contact Capital City Fruit, Inc. at (800) 535-6826, Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central Standard Time).

Source: Kane County Health Department