Federal health agencies have identified another health threat in America’s food supply, as a listeria outbreak linked to prepackaged convenience foods has hospitalized at least 10 people in a few states.
The contaminated products were distributed to vulnerable locations, including hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating the outbreak connected to Fresh & Ready Foods products.
The contaminated ready-to-eat foods were distributed between April 18 and April 28, 2025, across four western states: Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington.
In a development that should concern every American consumer, six of the 10 hospitalized individuals were already patients in healthcare facilities before contracting listeria.
Fresh & Ready Foods products were served in at least three healthcare facilities where these patients were receiving treatment, potentially compromising the safety of the most vulnerable citizens.
These items were distributed to hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and airlines, with “use by” dates ranging from April 22 to May 19, 2025.
At the same time, a voluntary recall has been initiated for products sold under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away.
The FDA advised Americans against eating, selling, or serving the recalled products and recommends thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces they may have contacted.
The investigation has been prolonged and initially inconclusive. The FDA admitted that “there was not enough evidence in the previous investigation to identify a source for the outbreak.”
Moreover, the investigation began last year but remained unresolved until April 2025, when listeria was finally confirmed in Fresh & Ready Foods samples.
Eight of the illnesses occurred in California, with two in Nevada. So far, no deaths have been reported, but health officials warn the outbreak is ongoing.
Listeria poses a particularly high risk to pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms of listeria infection range from mild fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea to more severe manifestations, including headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Anyone suspecting they might have listeriosis should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
This outbreak is part of a troubling pattern, as foodborne illnesses affect approximately 48 million Americans annually.
As government agencies continue their investigation, common-sense preventative measures include proper hand washing, cooking food to safe temperatures, proper food storage, and staying informed about food recalls.
