Urgent recall of 3 tomato sauces that could trigger 'fatal' food poisoning

Three tomato sauces have been urgently recalled due to a link with potentially fatal food poisoning. The US Food and Drug Administration announced the recall on Monday, affecting three tomato sauce products made in Connecticut.

The regulator issued the recall after the sauces from First and Last Bakery, LLC, were "manufactured without an approved schedule or otherwise evaluated to determine if the process is adequate", which could result in Clostridium botulinum forming, a bacterium responsible for Botulism, a "potentially fatal form of food poisoning". Customers have been urged not to use the sauces and to return them for a full refund.

The three products being recalled are: First and Last Original Marinara Sauce, Tomato & Basil; First and Last Original Traditional Pasta Sauce, Meat Flavored; and First and Last Original Puttanesca Sauce, Mildly Hot & Spicy.

The 26 FL OZ jars were distributed in Connecticut and Massachusetts in Big Y and Stop & Shop retail stores from September 22, 2025. The use-by dates are for September 2026.

The FDA said the sale and production of these sauces have been suspended to "ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements".

While no illnesses linked to the sauces are believed to have been reported, the FDA notes that products which are not "appropriately processed, acidified, or low-acid canned foods" can harbour the bacterium which causes botulism.

Botulism can result in symptoms such as dizziness, double vision, and difficulty speaking or swallowing. The FDA warned it can also cause difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension, and constipation.

"People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention," the regulator added.