Listeria Outbreak Prompts Recall of Over 75 Ready-to-Eat Foods in Western U.S.

More than 75 ready-to-eat food products have been recalled following a listeria outbreak that has hospitalized at least 10 people in California and Nevada, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Fox News reports.

The voluntary recall was issued by Fresh & Ready Foods over the weekend and includes a wide range of sandwiches, pasta dishes, and snack items sold under several brands, including Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away.

Though no illnesses have been directly linked to the specific products distributed between April 18 and April 28, the company said it is acting out of “an abundance of caution” to protect public health.

The impacted products have “Use By” dates ranging from April 22 to May 19 and were distributed across four states — Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington. The items were available at various retailers and food service locations, including hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and airlines.

The FDA confirmed that the recalled foods do not require further cooking and are typically consumed directly from the package. Consumers are urged not to eat any of the listed items and to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with the recalled products.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the 10 confirmed hospitalizations occurred between December 2023 and September 2024, with eight patients in California and two in Nevada.

Although federal health officials initially struggled to pinpoint the source of the outbreak, the investigation was reopened last month after listeria was detected in samples taken during a routine FDA inspection of Fresh & Ready Foods. Genetic analysis confirmed that the bacteria matched the strain responsible for the ongoing outbreak.

The recall comes amid heightened scrutiny of food safety protocols and follows a string of high-profile recalls, including a nationwide alert for bread products contaminated with glass fragments and an expanded recall of Igloo coolers after multiple fingertip amputations.

Consumers can find the full list of affected Fresh & Ready Foods products on the FDA website. Those who have purchased the recalled items are advised to discard them immediately and contact their place of purchase for additional instructions.