Tomato Recall as Dire Warning Issued If Products Eaten

A brand of sundried tomatoes has been slapped with a recall in the U.S. after inspectors found some of the products contained sulfites—which can cause “serious or life-threatening reactions” among people who are sensitive to the chemicals.

The 5-pound bags of “Aviator Sundried Tomato Halves”—prepared by Global Veg Corp and distributed nationwide—weren’t properly labeled, meaning the sulfites were undeclared on the packaging, making them a potential safety hazard.

While sulfites can occur naturally in some foods, such as eggs or onions, and develop in wine and beer as the result of fermentation, the chemicals are sometimes added as a preservative during processing to products such as dried fruit, baked goods and potato chips.

While most people can consume sulfites without any problems, about 1 in 100 people suffer from sulfite sensitivity, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The National Library of Medicine, a government agency, says people with sulfite sensitivity may suffer mild symptoms, such as flushing, abdominal pain and diarrhea—but in the most severe cases they can suffer life-threatening anaphylactic and asthmatic reactions.

The incident comes just weeks after the FDA flagged an “urgent food recall” around Thanksgiving when manufacturers discovered some of their raspberry cookies actually contained hazelnuts—a potentially deadly allergen to those allergic to nuts.

Global Veg Corp, based in New York City, said the company is recalling all lots and codes of its 5-pound vacuum bags of Aviator Sundried Tomato Halves “because they may contain undeclared sulfites.”

“People who have a severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions if they consume this product,” the company added in a statement released by the FDA.

“The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed that the sulfite containing product was distributed in packages that did not reveal the presence of sulfites.”

Newsweek has reached out to Global Veg Corp by email seeking further information and comment, and attempting to clarify why the labels didn’t contain the crucial information.

No illnesses or adverse reactions involving this product have been reported so far, the company said.

Consumers who bought the sundried tomatoes are advised to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The recall warning was shared by the FDA, whose website explains that when “a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company’s announcement as a public service.”

Recalls are issued if there are concerns that a food product may be harmful in some way. For example, in January, some 50,000 pounds of sausage products were recalled when inspectors announced they could be infected with a potentially deadly bacteria.

While last month, cooks were warned of a ground beef recall hitting thousands of pounds of meat, amid fears that it may be “contaminated with a foreign object.”