• Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC recalls ready-to-eat products due to a Listeria outbreak.
• Ten people have been hospitalized, with cases primarily in California and Nevada.
• The outbreak was traced back to Listeria found in the company's facility during a routine inspection.

A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, traced to Fresh & Ready Foods LLC in San Fernando, CA, has led to a voluntary recall of numerous ready-to-eat (RTE) food products. The FDA and CDC are investigating the outbreak, which has resulted in 10 hospitalizations across two states. The recalled products, distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington, include sandwiches, snack boxes, and pastas sold under brand names like Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away. The investigation was initially opened in 2024 but was reopened after a routine inspection in April 2025 revealed Listeria in the company's facility. Whole genome sequencing confirmed the strain matched the outbreak, prompting the recall and consumer warnings.

• What: Voluntary recall of ready-to-eat food products due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
• Who: Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC, FDA, CDC, consumers in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington.
• When: Recall initiated in May 2025 following an investigation reopened in April 2025. Products were distributed between April 18 and April 28, 2025, with 'Use By' dates from April 22 to May 19, 2025.
• Where: Distribution in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington at retailers, food service locations (hospitals, hotels), convenience stores, airports, and airlines.

The Listeria outbreak linked to Fresh & Ready Foods highlights the potential risks associated with ready-to-eat food products and the importance of stringent food safety measures. The fact that the outbreak investigation was initially opened in 2024 and then reopened in 2025 after environmental sampling suggests the difficulty in tracing the source of contamination. The use of whole genome sequencing was crucial in connecting the Listeria strain found in the company's facility with the outbreak illnesses. The voluntary recall by Fresh & Ready Foods indicates a proactive approach to mitigate further risk to consumers. However, the company stating that no illnesses have been linked to the recalled food, while the FDA reports 10 hospitalizations from the specific strain of Listeria, presents a potential discrepancy that requires careful interpretation. Consumers should adhere to the FDA's recommendations for handling potentially contaminated products and monitoring for symptoms.

Fresh & Ready Foods has taken immediate corrective actions including removing equipment to address this issue to ensure ongoing food safety and compliance with FDA guidance.

as a precautionary measure to ensure the continued safety of our consumers

The Listeria outbreak traced to Fresh & Ready Foods has resulted in a recall of 86 ready-to-eat products, including sandwiches, salads, burritos, and snack items, distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington. The FDA and CDC investigation, which initially began in 2024, reopened in April 2025 after Listeria was found in environmental samples at the Fresh & Ready Foods facility. Whole genome sequencing confirmed the Listeria strain matched those of the 10 individuals who have been hospitalized across two states. Epidemiological data revealed that all six interviewed patients had been hospitalized prior to their Listeria diagnosis, and ready-to-eat foods from Fresh & Ready Foods were served at three of those facilities. The recalled products, sold under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away, have "use by" dates ranging from April 22, 2025, to May 19, 2025. Consumers are urged to discard these products and monitor for Listeria symptoms, which can appear up to 70 days after consumption. The FDA's investigation is ongoing, with further updates expected.