Fresh & Ready Foods Initiates Recall of Products Amid Listeria Outbreak

In a recent health alert, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC, based in San Fernando, California, has voluntarily recalled several of their ready-to-eat food products following an outbreak of listeria infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traced the outbreak to items produced by the company. At least ten individuals across California and Nevada have been hospitalized due to listeria infections linked to these products.

The recalled items, sold under various brand names including Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away, were available in multiple locations such as hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and airlines across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington. Symptoms of listeria infection typically appear within two weeks of consuming contaminated food and can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Serious cases may involve complications like headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

The ongoing investigation into this outbreak began last year but was reopened in April after the CDC and FDA found listeria bacteria in food samples from the company, matching the strain found in patients. In response, Fresh & Ready Foods acted swiftly by removing affected products and addressing the contamination sources. The FDA noted that six of the ten patients had been hospitalized prior to developing listeria.

Samples from patients were collected between December 2023 and September 2024. The company has issued a recall of products with 'use by' dates from April 22 to May 19, 2025. Consumers are advised to check for the affected products and discard any that fall within this date range.

More information about listeriosis can be found at Cleveland Clinic’s resource on the topic. Consumers who purchased these products should stay informed and exercise caution to prevent further illness.