A listeria outbreak connected to prepared food items has reportedly affected a minimum of ten individuals in the U.S., prompting a manufacturer to initiate a voluntary recall of several products, according to federal authorities.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Saturday that federal, state, and local authorities are probing the outbreak associated with foodstuffs manufactured by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California. The FDA reports that the ten individuals who became ill resided in California and Nevada and necessitated hospitalization.

The agency stated that the products were distributed across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington, available at various points of sale such as retailers, food service establishments including hospitals and hotels, as well as convenience stores, airports, and through airlines.

Typically, symptoms of Listeria infection manifest within two weeks following the consumption of contaminated food. Mild instances may present with fever, muscular discomfort, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea, whereas more severe manifestations can involve headache, nuchal rigidity, disorientation, impaired equilibrium, and seizures.

Federal officials said they started looking into the recent outbreak last year but didn't have enough proof to find where the infections came from. They said the investigation started again in April after FDA inspectors found listeria in samples from Fresh & Ready Foods that were the same as the strain from the outbreak.

Fresh & Ready Foods stated in a press release that it had implemented immediate corrective measures, including the removal of equipment, to resolve the problem.

Investigations by the FDA revealed that six of the ten individuals who fell ill had been previously hospitalised, and at least three of the healthcare facilities where these patients received prior treatment had served products manufactured by Fresh & Ready Foods.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the test specimens from affected individuals were gathered between December 2023 and September 2024.

Fresh & Ready initiated a voluntary recall of specific products, distinguishable by "use by" dates between April 22 and May 19 of the current year, marketed under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away.