Federal health officials are investigating a listeria outbreak that has led to the hospitalization of at least 10 people in the United States.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a release on May 10 that the outbreak is tied to several ready-to-eat food items produced by Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC, based in San Fernando, California, that have been recalled under various brand names.
The 10 people who fell ill were in California and Nevada, but the recall extends to four states.
When Did the Recall Begin?
On May 10, 2025, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC recalled certain ready-to-eat products, like sandwiches and bistro boxes, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The recalled products can be identified by the “Use By” dates from 4/22/2025 to 05/19/2025 and include these brand names:
- Fresh & Ready Foods
- City Point Market Fresh Food to Go
- Fresh Take Crave Away
The recalled products were distributed between April 18, 2025, and April 28, 2025, per the FDA.
What Products Have Been Recalled?
The recalled items are primarily ready-to-eat meals, including sandwiches, wraps, and salads. A full list recalled items is available on the FDA website.
The products were sold to retail stores, hospitals, hotels, airports and airlines.
Which States Have Recalled Products?
The outbreak primarily affects California and Nevada, but the recalled items were also sold in Arizona and Washington.
Consumers in these who may have purchased these items are urged to check the “Use By” date, which is printed on the front of each product package.
When Did the Investigation Begin?
The FDA and CDC began investigating the outbreak in 2024, but it was previously closed. It was reopened in April 2025 after the FDA found listeria in environmental samples collected from Fresh & Ready Foods during a routine inspection.
“Whole genome sequencing analysis confirmed that the strain of Listeria found at Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC matches the strain of Listeria causing illnesses in this outbreak,” a release from the FDA read.
While listeria infections are relatively rare, they can be especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Listeria infection is the third-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, per the CDC.
What is Listeria?
Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis. The CDC categorizes listeria illness in two ways: invasive illness and intestinal illness.
Symptoms of invasive illness, which occurs when bacteria spread beyond the intestines, include fever, flu-like symptoms like muscle aches and fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and seizures.
Intestinal listeria illness is rarely diagnosed, per the CDC, and symptoms usually only last 1-3 days. Symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting, usually begin within 23 hours after eating contaminated food.
Listeria can thrive in cold environments, such as refrigerated foods, which is why ready-to-eat meals and deli items are particularly vulnerable.
The post Listeria Outbreak: Four States with Recalls As 10 People Hospitalized in US appeared first on Newsweek.
