Authorities in the US are investigating a listeria outbreak that has affected at least 10 individuals, with the source traced back to ready-to-eat food products. The producer, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California, has voluntarily recalled several products in response to the outbreak.
The US Food and Drug Administration disclosed that the 10 affected individuals, who required hospitalization, were located in California and Nevada. The contaminated products were distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington through various retail outlets, food service establishments, hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and airlines.
Listeria symptoms typically manifest within two weeks of consuming tainted food. Mild cases may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea, while severe symptoms could involve headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Although federal officials initiated an investigation into the outbreak last year, it was not until April when FDA investigators discovered listeria in samples collected from Fresh & Ready Foods that matched the outbreak strain, prompting a more thorough investigation.
Fresh & Ready Foods promptly implemented corrective measures to address the issue following the discovery. The FDA found that six of the hospitalized individuals had consumed items from Fresh & Ready Foods before falling ill with listeria.
Products affected by the recall can be identified by “use by” dates ranging from April 22 to May 19 of the current year under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away.
