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A Listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat foods has hospitalized 10 people in California and Nevada, leading to a recall in those states and two others. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating.
While Listeria monocytogenes infections have so far only been reported in California and Nevada, Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC also voluntarily recalled several of their ready-to-eat food products in the states of Arizona and Washington.
“FDA and CDC began investigating this cluster in 2024, however, there was not enough evidence in the previous investigation to identify a source for the outbreak,” the FDA wrote in an update. “The investigation was reopened in April 2025 after FDA investigators found Listeria in environmental samples collected from Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC during a routine surveillance inspection. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis confirmed that the strain of Listeria found at Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC matches the strain of Listeria causing illnesses in this outbreak.
“Additionally, based on epidemiological information provided by CDC, state and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate before they got sick. Of the six people for whom information is available, all six (100%) were hospitalized and later became sick with Listeria. Records reviewed from facilities indicated that ready-to-eat foods made by Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC were confirmed to have been served in at least three of these facilities. As of May 9, 2025, a total of 10 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from two states. All 10 people have been hospitalized.”
While none of the cases have been directly linked to the recalled food, Fresh & Ready Foods recalled products including the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away. The recalled products were distributed between April 18 and April 28, 2025 in the four states and can be identified by the “Use By” dates ranging from April 22 to May 19, 2025. They were being sold at numerous locations including hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, and airports.
According to the FDA, symptoms may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria. Those symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more severe cases, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions may occur.
The CDC has been very busy this year. In addition to the recent Listeria outbreak, the agency dealing with outbreaks of measles, bird flu, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, alpha-gal syndrome, and Candida auris (C. auris) infections.
Content shared from brobible.com.