Federal authorities have reported that a listeria outbreak, potentially linked to prepared food items, has affected at least ten individuals in the U.S., leading a manufacturer to initiate a voluntary recall of multiple products.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's statement on Saturday, a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving federal, state, and local authorities is underway concerning an outbreak associated with food products from Fresh & Ready Foods LLC, located in San Fernando, California. The FDA reported that the ten individuals affected, all of whom required hospitalization, were situated in California and Nevada.

The agency indicated the products were distributed across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington through various outlets, including retailers and food service providers such as hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and airlines.

Typically, the onset of Listeria symptoms occurs within two weeks following the consumption of tainted food. Milder manifestations may present as fever, muscular pain, nausea, fatigue, emesis, and diarrhea, whereas more severe indications can encompass headache, cervical rigidity, disorientation, impaired equilibrium, and seizures.

Federal authorities stated they commenced probing the recent outbreak last year but lacked sufficient evidence to pinpoint a source of the infections. They explained the inquiry was resumed in April after FDA investigators detected listeria in samples gathered from Fresh & Ready Foods that corresponded to the outbreak strain.

In a recent press release, Fresh & Ready Foods stated that they implemented immediate remedial measures, such as removing equipment, to rectify the problem.

An FDA investigation revealed that six of the ten individuals affected by the outbreak had been admitted to healthcare facilities prior to developing listeriosis, and products from Fresh & Ready Foods were reportedly served in at least three of these institutions.

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

Fresh & Ready initiated a voluntary recall of specific products, discernible by "use by" dates spanning from April 22nd to May 19th of the current year, marketed under the labels Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away.