In the United States, a Listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat foods has caused illness in at least ten individuals, as confirmed by federal authorities, prompting one manufacturer to voluntarily recall several affected products.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials announced Saturday that federal, state, and local authorities are investigating an outbreak linked to food products manufactured by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC, located in San Fernando, California. According to the FDA, the ten individuals who became ill reside in California and Nevada and required hospitalization for their symptoms.

Furthermore, the agency has indicated that these items were sold in retail outlets across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington, as well as through various food service points of sale, including hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and airlines.

Symptoms of Listeria infection typically manifest within two weeks following the consumption of contaminated food. While milder cases might present with fever, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea, more severe instances can potentially lead to symptoms such as headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.

Federal authorities have stated that they lacked sufficient evidence to pinpoint the source of this outbreak, which commenced last year. However, the investigation was reactivated in April after FDA investigators identified a strain of Listeria in samples taken from Fresh & Ready Foods that corresponded with the current outbreak.

Fresh & Ready Foods announced via a press release that it implemented corrective measures, such as equipment removal, to address the issue promptly.

According to the FDA investigation, six out of the ten individuals who developed symptoms were already hospitalized before the onset of Listeria infection; additionally, it was confirmed that products manufactured by Fresh & Ready Foods had been served at at least three healthcare facilities where the patients had previously received treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that test samples were gathered from afflicted patients between December 2023 and September 2024.

Fresh & Ready Foods voluntarily recalled several products identifiable by the brand names "Fresh & Ready Foods," "City Point Market Fresh Food to Go," and "Fresh Take Crave Away," with "best by" dates between April 22nd and May 19th of this year.