A multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes associated with ready-to-eat food products made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC has caused at least 10 hospitalizations as of May 2025 in California and Nevada. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified the contamination as due to certain products packaged under three brand names, leading to a voluntary recall in four western states. This outbreak validates the ongoing threat of Listeria contamination in ready-to-eat foods and presents some significant consumer protection measures.
Recalled products and distribution information
The illness has been associated with ready-to-eat sandwiches, snacks, and deli products made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC, a California-based food establishment. On May 10, 2025, the company initiated a voluntary product recall of “Use By” dates between April 22, 2025, and May 19, 2025. The recalled items were sold to grocery stores, hospitals, hotels, airports, airlines, and convenience stores in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington.
Products involved were distributed under three brands:
- Fresh & Ready Foods
- City Point Market Fresh Food to Go
- Fresh Take Crave Away
Individual servings are packaged sandwiches, protein snack foods, and salads with no other preparation needed before consumption. Consumers should look for product labels with the listed brand names and “Use By” dates posted in a highly visible location on the front of each package.
Outbreak scope and hospitalizations
Through May 12, 2025, 10 people in California and Nevada have been hospitalized with serious Listeria illness associated with the recalled foods. The CDC and FDA initially detected a cluster of Listeria illness in 2024 but were unable to determine the source. The outbreak was reopened in April 2025 when routine FDA testing of Fresh & Ready Foods’ San Fernando facility detected Listeria monocytogenes on equipment that had been used during processing. Whole genome sequencing subsequently confirmed the outbreak strain in environmental samples.
The affected products were distributed between April 18 and April 28, 2025, to corporate centers, health facilities, and travel nodes across the four states. According to health officials, Listeria’s 10-week incubation period suggests additional cases in the months to come.
Symptoms and high-risk populations
Listeria infection (listeriosis) usually develops within two weeks of ingestion but may develop as early as the same day or as long as 70 days after eating. The early signs are mild and include fever, muscle pains, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe infections, the infection may become meningitis or septicemia with headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.
Pregnant women, those aged 65 years and above, and those who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk of developing serious outcomes. Pregnant women will likely have flu-like symptoms, but Listeria can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or possibly life-threatening infection in the neonate. There were no reported deaths among the hospitalized patients up to May 12.
Consumer advice and protection measures
Consumers should immediately dispose of or return any recalled product to the store. In addition, consumers should:
- Clean thoroughly refrigerators, containers, and surfaces that have been in contact with the recalled items, as Listeria is cold-resistant and can infect other foods.
- Monitor for symptoms and seek medical care early if infection is suspected, especially in high-risk groups.
Retailers and food service operators have been instructed to recall affected products from the market and sanitize storage areas. Fresh & Ready Foods affirmed that it took corrective action, including recalling tainted equipment and enhancing sanitation procedures.
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