SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (AP) — At least 10 people in the U.S. have fallen ill due to a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat food products. Federal officials announced that Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California, is voluntarily recalling several items.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that the outbreak is connected to foods produced by Fresh & Ready Foods. The 10 affected individuals, located in California and Nevada, required hospitalization. The products were distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington, sold at various locations including hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and airlines.
Listeria symptoms typically manifest within two weeks of consuming contaminated food. Mild cases may involve fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea, while severe cases can lead to headaches, stiff necks, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Federal officials began investigating the outbreak last year but lacked sufficient evidence to identify the source. The investigation was reopened in April after FDA investigators found listeria in samples from Fresh & Ready Foods matching the outbreak strain.
Six of the 10 individuals hospitalized had been treated in healthcare facilities where Fresh & Ready Foods products were served. Test samples from sick patients were collected between December 2023 and September 2024.
Fresh & Ready Foods has voluntarily recalled several products with “use by” dates ranging from April 22 to May 19 under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away.
— new from AP News