Split or cracked tomatoes don’t normally pose health risks, but there are cases where they could make you sick. For example, if the fruit is treated with pesticides or herbicides, these chemicals can slip through the cracks and contaminate its flesh. That’s not the case with organic tomatoes, which should be safe to eat unless they have signs of mold, rot, or disease.
Generally, it’s recommended to closely examine any tomatoes with splits or cracks. If the fruit looks firm, plump, and smells fresh, then it should be perfectly edible. Check the cracks for moldy or mushy spots and other signs of decay. If you see any, discard the tomatoes. Bacteria can enter through the split and multiply, which may lead to foodborne diseases.
On a similar note, you should discard any tomatoes with blossom-end rot, black holes, or flattened spots with a bull’s-eye appearance. These are signs of decay and could pose health risks. For example, fruitworms can attack the tomato and dig tunnels through its flesh, rendering it inedible. But if the fruit has a “clean” split with no signs of rot, mold, or yeast, you can just cut around it and eat the tomato.
