USDA warns that Hello Fresh meals may contain listeria-tainted spinach
[October 07, 2025]
By JONEL ALECCIA
Federal health officials late Monday warned people not to eat certain
Hello Fresh subscription meal kits containing spinach that may be
contaminated with listeria.
The U.S. Agriculture Department issued a public health alert for the
meals, which were produced by FreshRealm, the San Clemente,
California-based company linked to an expanding listeria outbreak tied
to heat-and-eat pasta meals.
The products include 10.1-ounce containers of Hello Fresh Ready Made
Meals Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta and 10-ounce containers of Hello
Fresh Ready Made Meals Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey. Both were
shipped directly to consumers.
The pork pepper pasta is identified with establishment number Est. 47718
and lot code 49107 or Est. 2937 and lot code 48840. The unstuffed
peppers with ground turkey is identified with Est. P-47718 and lot codes
50069, 50073 or 50698.
The problem was discovered when FreshRealm notified the USDA's Food
Safety and Inspection Service that the spinach used in the products
tested positive for listeria bacteria.
Last month, FreshRealm said that tests confirmed that pasta used in
linguine dishes sold at Walmart contained the same strain of listeria
linked to an outbreak in June. That outbreak, originally tied to chicken
fettucine Alfredo, has killed at least four people and sickened 20, with
the most recent illness reported Sept. 11.
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 FreshRealm officials said genetic
testing found the outbreak strain of listeria in samples of pasta
made and supplied by Nate's Fine Foods of Roseville, California.
Several additional companies including Kroger, Giant Eagle and
Albertson's have recalled pasta salads and other dishes made with
products from Nate's Fine Foods for potential listeria
contamination.
Listeria infections can cause serious illness, particularly in older
adults, people with weakened immune systems and those who are
pregnant or their newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches,
headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
About 1,600 people get sick each year from listeria infections and
about 260 die, the CDC says. Federal officials in December said they
were revamping protocols to prevent listeria infections after
several high-profile outbreaks, including one linked to Boar’s Head
deli meats that led to 10 deaths and more than 60 illnesses last
year.
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