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May 10, 2025

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that Fresh & Ready Foods LLC's ready-to-eat food may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and may be making people sick.

Epidemiologic Data

As of May 9, 2025, a total of 10 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from two states. Sick people's samples were collected on dates ranging from December 3, 2023, to September 9, 2024. Of 10 people with information available, all 10 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. Currently, there have been no illnesses identified in 2025. However, a recent environmental isolate was collected at Fresh & Ready Foods LLC and illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the month before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.

The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø investigated this outbreak in 2024. Epidemiologic evidence in previous investigations identified that sick people were in healthcare settings such as hospitals prior to becoming sick, and the likely source was a food served in those types of institutions, but there was not enough information to identify a specific food. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø reopened the investigation in April 2025 after the outbreak strain was found in environmental samples from Fresh & Ready Foods LLC.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the month before they got sick. Of the six people with information, all six (100%) were hospitalized before becoming sick. Records reviewed from facilities indicated that ready-to-eat foods made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC were served in at least three of the facilities.

Laboratory and Traceback Data

Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.

On March 31, 2025, FDA collected environmental samples for testing at Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC. WGS showed that the Listeria in the environmental isolates were closely related to bacteria from sick people. This means that people likely got sick from eating ready-to-eat foods made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC.

Records reviewed from facilities indicated that ready-to-eat foods made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC were served in three facilities.

Public Health Actions

On May 10, 2025, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC select ready-to-eat foods. Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled products.