Tomatoes are one of the most widely consumed vegetables in the United States, appearing fresh on tables and as an ingredient in thousands of processed foods — sauces, soups, canned products, salsas, and more. Tomato recalls have ranged from large-scale fresh produce advisories affecting the entire country to targeted canned product recalls for contamination or undeclared allergens. The 2008 salmonella outbreak investigation — one of the largest and most complex in FDA history — centered initially on tomatoes before eventually identifying a different source. There are currently multiple food recalls tracked on Recall Tracker, including fresh produce and canned food products.
This page explains how to check your specific tomato product, why tomatoes are recalled, which agency oversees these recalls, and what steps to take if your product is affected.
Step 1: Identify the product type, brand, and lot information.
For fresh tomatoes, identify the brand or grower name (on the clamshell container, sticker, or store signage), the origin region if listed, and any pack date or lot code. For canned or processed tomato products, locate the lot code and best-by date stamped on the lid or bottom of the can, and the UPC on the label.
Step 2: Note the UPC barcode.
The UPC on packaged tomato products identifies the specific product and is listed in recall notices. Bulk fresh tomatoes without individual UPCs may require checking by grower name or origin.
Step 3: Search Recall Tracker.
Go to Recall Tracker and search your brand or product name. Compare the lot codes, best-by dates, and UPCs on your product against the affected items listed in any recall notices.
Step 4: Use the barcode scanner.
The barcode scanner at /scan lets you scan the UPC on packaged tomato products directly to check against the recall database.
Step 5: Set up brand alerts.
Visit brands and follow your tomato brand to receive automatic notifications if future recalls are issued.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has primary jurisdiction over tomato recalls. Fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, and tomato-based processed foods are all regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and FSMA. The FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) investigates contamination events, coordinates with the CDC and state health departments during outbreak investigations, and works with growers and processors on recall actions. See the FDA agency page for more on how FDA recall authority works.
USDA (Food Safety and Inspection Service) may be involved when tomatoes are used as an ingredient in meat or poultry composite products — such as tomato-based pasta sauces that contain meat — though jurisdiction over the tomato component itself remains with FDA.
Health Canada and international food safety agencies issue parallel recall notices for tomato products distributed across multiple countries. Recall Tracker monitors Health Canada and other international agency recalls alongside FDA actions.
Salmonella is the pathogen most associated with tomato recalls and advisories. Raw tomatoes can become contaminated with salmonella through contact with contaminated soil or water during growing, through contaminated water used for irrigation or pesticide application, or through post-harvest handling and packing shed operations. Tomatoes with damaged skin or stem scars are particularly susceptible to pathogen entry.
The summer 2008 salmonella Saintpaul outbreak is the most prominent example. It initially triggered a nationwide advisory against certain types of raw tomatoes and caused widespread voluntary withdrawals by grocers and restaurants. The investigation was ultimately one of the most complex and resource-intensive in FDA history. While the tomato advisory was eventually lifted as evidence pointed toward jalapeno and serrano peppers from a shared supply chain, the episode demonstrated how tomatoes can serve as a vehicle for serious multi-state salmonella outbreaks and how challenging produce traceability can be without lot-level tracking systems.
Listeria monocytogenes has been identified in both fresh tomatoes and processed tomato products. Listeria is particularly dangerous because it can grow at refrigerator temperatures, meaning contaminated product stored properly can still harbor a growing pathogen. Listeriosis is especially serious for pregnant women — it can cause miscarriage and stillbirth — and for the elderly and immunocompromised.
Processed tomato products such as refrigerated tomato sauces and fresh-cut tomato products have been recalled for listeria, typically traced to contamination in the processing environment.
Tomatoes are subject to extensive pesticide use during cultivation, and FDA monitoring has identified tomato imports with pesticide residues exceeding established tolerances. Domestic tomatoes have also been subject to pesticide-related recalls when residue testing reveals violations. The FDA's import alert system can restrict entry of tomato shipments from suppliers with a history of residue violations.
Canned and jarred tomato products — pasta sauces, salsas, pizza sauces, diced tomatoes with added ingredients — have been recalled for undeclared allergens including milk (from shared dairy equipment), soy, wheat, and tree nuts. The tomato product itself is allergen-free, but processing on shared lines or with shared equipment can introduce cross-contact allergens not declared on the label.
Stop consuming the product immediately. Remove fresh tomatoes from your kitchen or the canned product from your pantry, and prevent household members from consuming it.
Check anyone who ate the product. Identify who consumed the affected tomatoes and watch for symptoms. Salmonella symptoms typically appear 6 hours to 6 days after exposure; listeria symptoms can take days to weeks to develop.
Seek medical care if symptomatic. Severe diarrhea, high fever, bloody stool, or symptoms in pregnant women, elderly individuals, or immunocompromised people warrant prompt medical evaluation. Listeria in pregnancy requires immediate medical attention.
Discard fresh tomatoes safely. Do not place recalled fresh tomatoes in compost or areas accessible to animals. Bag and seal before disposal.
Return or discard canned products. Canned tomato products subject to recall should be returned to the store for a refund or disposed of without opening. Do not taste-test recalled canned products.
Report illness. If you or a family member became ill after consuming recalled tomatoes, report to the FDA at fda.gov/safety/medwatch and to your state health department. These reports help regulators trace outbreak sources.
Recall coverage depends on the specific recall notice. Some tomato recalls cover all types and varieties; others are specific to roma, beefsteak, or other types. Always read the recall notice carefully for which tomato types and origins are covered. Cherry and grape tomatoes are generally grown and distributed by separate supply chains and may or may not be included in a recall affecting larger tomatoes.
Cooking tomatoes to an internal temperature of 165°F or higher will kill salmonella and most other bacteria. However, the FDA does not recommend attempting to make recalled produce safe through cooking, because achieving a consistent kill temperature throughout a dish is difficult to guarantee, and the recall may not be limited to bacterial concerns. When a tomato product is recalled, discarding it is the safest course of action.
Tomatoes from small local farms sold directly at farmers markets are generally not part of the large commercial supply chains that generate branded product recalls. However, if you know the farm name, you can search it in Recall Tracker. For concerns about local produce, contact your county health department or state department of agriculture.
The 2008 investigation illustrates how challenging fresh produce traceback can be. Tomatoes and jalapeno peppers shared supply chain infrastructure, and early epidemiological evidence pointed toward tomatoes before traceback ultimately led investigators to a pepper supplier. Today, FSMA traceability rules have significantly strengthened the ability to trace produce from farm to retail. Recall Tracker reflects official FDA recall announcements — when the FDA issues a recall or advisory for a specific product, we reflect that notice as issued.
Search all food recalls to check your specific brand and product, and browse food brands to set up automatic alerts. You can also view recall statistics by category to understand trends in food safety over time. As of {{CURRENT_DATE}}, Recall Tracker is actively monitoring recalls from FDA, USDA, and seven additional agencies.
Start by matching the brand name, product type, package size, lot code, UPC, and best-by date against the recall notice. Fresh tomatoes may be identified by clamshell label, case label, or point-of-sale sign, while canned tomatoes and sauces usually list lot codes stamped on the lid or carton. If you want a faster check, use RecallTracker’s barcode scanner at /scan or search the manufacturer at /brands.
Recalls can affect fresh whole tomatoes, grape or cherry tomatoes, diced or sliced packaged tomatoes, salsa, pasta sauce, canned tomatoes, and ready-to-eat foods made with tomatoes. The most common reasons are Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, undeclared allergens in multi-ingredient products, and contamination linked to processing or packaging. RecallTracker’s data pages at /statistics can help you compare how often produce recalls happen versus packaged tomato products.
On fresh tomatoes, the identifying code may appear on the clamshell, bag, master case, or retail display rather than on each individual tomato. On canned tomatoes, sauces, and soups, the lot code is often ink-jetted or embossed on the can lid, carton flap, jar neck, or label edge. If the code is hard to read, use /scan for packaged items or check /brands to see how that manufacturer formats recall details.
If you ate a recalled product and feel well, save the package if possible and monitor for symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, or stomach cramps, which are common with Salmonella exposure. Higher-risk groups include older adults, young children, pregnant people, and anyone with a weakened immune system; they should contact a clinician sooner if symptoms start. Premium alerts at /pricing can help you track repeat recalls from brands you buy often.
No. Fresh tomatoes are frequently recalled, but shelf-stable and refrigerated tomato products can also be pulled for contamination, processing failures, swollen or leaking containers, or undeclared ingredients. A recall may cover a single lot, one production date, or a broad range of products made in the same facility, which is why brand-level search at /brands and trend monitoring at /statistics are useful.