At least 10 people sickened in US listeria outbreak linked to prepared
foods
[May 12, 2025]
SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (AP) — At least 10 people in the U.S. have been
sickened in a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat food products,
and a producer is voluntarily recalling several products, federal
officials said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Saturday that federal, state
and local officials are investigating the outbreak linked to foods
produced by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California. The FDA
says the 10 people who fell ill were in California and Nevada, and
required hospitalization.
The agency said the products were sold in Arizona, California, Nevada
and Washington at locations including retailers and food service points
of sale, including hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports and
by airlines.
Listeria symptoms usually start within two weeks of eating contaminated
food. Mild cases can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness,
vomiting and diarrhea, while more severe symptoms may include headache,
stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
Federal officials said they started investigating the recent outbreak
last year but didn't have enough evidence to identify a source of the
infections. They said the investigation was reopened in April when FDA
investigators found listeria in samples collected from Fresh & Ready
Foods that matched the strain from the outbreak.
[to top of second column]
|
 Fresh & Ready Foods said in a news
release that it took immediate corrective actions including removing
equipment to address the issue.
The FDA found that six of the 10 people who got
sick had been hospitalized before becoming ill with listeria. The
FDA found that items made by Fresh & Ready Foods had been served in
at least three of the health care facilities where the patients had
been previously treated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the test
samples from sick patients were collected from December 2023 to
September 2024.
Fresh & Ready voluntarily recalled several products, which can be
identified by “use by” dates ranging from April 22 to May 19 of this
year under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market
Fresh Food to Go and Fresh Take Crave Away.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
