Tyshane Taylor, 26, of Detroit, left, shops with her son Ma’Khai Taylor, 3, at the Detroit People’s Food Co-op, a community owned grocery store and event space photographed on Friday, May 2, 2025 as it celebrates it’s one year anniversary.
California – California-based Fresh & Ready Foods has issued a widespread recall of 86 ready-to-eat food products following a listeria outbreak that has hospitalized at least 10 people in California and Nevada. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an outbreak advisory on May 10, warning consumers not to eat the affected items and to thoroughly sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with them.
The recalled products include sandwiches, snack boxes, pasta dishes, and other pre-packaged meals sold under various brands such as Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, Fresh Take Crave Away, and others.The company distributed these products to retail stores and food service locations in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Washington state, including hospitals, hotels, and airports. All items were labeled with “use by” dates ranging from April 22 to May 19 and sold in plastic containers.
The FDA reports that as of May 9, a total of 10 individuals were hospitalized after contracting listeria, with eight cases reported in California and two in Nevada. Although no illnesses have been directly linked to products distributed between April 18 and April 28, the company has taken precautionary action to recall all potentially affected items. In a statement, Fresh & Ready Foods emphasized the recall was voluntary and aimed at ensuring consumer safety.
Listeria is a serious bacterial infection that can cause severe illness, particularly in pregnant individuals, older adults, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems. The bacteria can survive refrigeration and freezing, making it particularly challenging to control in pre-packaged, ready-to-eat foods. Common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, fever, headache, stiff neck, and loss of balance. In more severe cases, it can lead to sepsis or meningitis.
Health officials began investigating the outbreak in 2024, but only recently identified a link to Fresh & Ready Foods after listeria was detected in food samples from the company. Genetic analysis confirmed the strain matched the one found in patients. Illnesses associated with the outbreak date back to December 2023 and continued through September 2024, indicating a prolonged exposure period.
Authorities urge consumers to check their refrigerators for recalled products and discard them immediately. The FDA also advises cleaning and disinfecting any surfaces, utensils, or containers that may have come into contact with the food to avoid further contamination. Consumers can visit the FDA’s website for a complete list of recalled items.
