HARTFORD, Conn. — First and Last Bakery, LLC is recalling three jarred pasta sauces sold in Connecticut and Massachusetts after regulators warned the products may pose a botulism hazard, the company said Friday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the sauces were made without an approved scheduled process, a lapse that can allow Clostridium botulinum toxin to form in certain canned foods, Oct. 31, 2025.
The tomato sauce recall involves 26-fluid-ounce jars of the First & Last brand — Original Marinara (Tomato & Basil), Traditional Pasta (Meat Flavored) and Puttanesca (Mildly Hot & Spicy) — with a “Use By” date of 09/26. The products were distributed in Connecticut and Massachusetts through Big Y and potentially other retailers starting Sept. 22, 2025, and continuing through Oct. 28, 2025, according to the FDA recall notice. No illnesses have been reported, and the company said it has suspended production and sales while it works to meet regulatory requirements.
The company said the potential health risk was identified by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The FDA notice explains the products were made without an approved safe-processing schedule or an evaluation to determine whether the process was adequate — an important safeguard for some acidified or low-acid canned foods.
What to know about the tomato sauce recall
To check whether a jar in your kitchen is part of the tomato sauce recall, look for all three of these details at the same time: the First & Last brand name, a 26-fluid-ounce glass jar, and a “Use By” date of 09/26 (September 2026). If those match, confirm the variety name on the front label.
First & Last Original Marinara Sauce, Tomato & Basil
First & Last Original Traditional Pasta Sauce, Meat Flavored
First & Last Original Puttanesca Sauce, Mildly Hot & Spicy
Consumers who purchased any product included in this tomato sauce recall should not eat it. The company urged customers to return the jars to the place of purchase for a full refund. Customers with questions can call 860-956-5000, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time.
Symptoms to watch for after a tomato sauce recall
Botulism is rare, but it is a medical emergency that can cause serious illness or death if not treated quickly. The CDC’s list of botulism symptoms includes difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech and trouble breathing. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed should seek immediate medical care.
Health officials warn the toxin cannot be seen, smelled or tasted in contaminated foods. A MedlinePlus overview of botulism notes the illness is often linked to improperly canned or preserved foods, where bacterial spores can grow and produce toxin under certain conditions.
Botulism-related recalls have surfaced before
While outbreaks are uncommon, botulism concerns have driven other high-profile recalls in recent years. In June 2024, the Snapchill canned coffee recall was announced after federal regulators warned the company’s process could allow toxin to develop. In February 2025, an Associated Press report on a canned tuna recall said a manufacturing defect in some “easy open” can lids could lead to leakage or contamination with the bacteria that causes botulism.
State agencies have also issued botulism warnings tied to jarred products, including a California Department of Public Health alert in 2018 involving dozens of varieties of jarred soups sold in Southern California.
For now, the safest step in the current tomato sauce recall is straightforward: check for the First & Last jars with a 09/26 “Use By” date and do not eat the sauce.
