An FDA outbreak investigation that began in 2024 has finally revealed that the cause of Listeria infections is ready-to-eat foods.
Sandwiches and snack foods from Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, CA, have been found to be the source of the pathogen that has sickened 10 people in California and Nevada. All 10 have been hospitalized.
When the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating the outbreak cluster in 2024, there was not enough evidence to identify a source of the Listeria monocytogenes that is making people sick.
The investigation was reopened in April this year after FDA investigators found Listeria in environmental samples collected from Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC production facility 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 the pathogen causing illnesses in this outbreak, according to the FDA.
State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate before they got sick. 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 the facilities where the sick people were hospitalized.
In response to the investigation, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC voluntarily recalled 86 of their ready-to-eat foods or products that do not need additional cooking, including sandwiches, salads, burritos and snack items. The recalled products are identified by the use-by dates from April 22 to May 19 and include the following brand names:
Fresh & Ready Foods
City Point Market Fresh Food to Go
Fresh Take Crave Away
The recalled products were distributed between April 18 and April 28 and sold in Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington at a variety of locations including retailers and food service locations such as hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports and airlines. The FDA reports that the products may have been further distributed to additional states.
To view a list of the 86 recalled products, click here.
About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure.
Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, other complications and death. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
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