Deadly Listeria Outbreak Linked to Indianapolis Facility Sparks Recall
A company with a location based in Indianapolis, Indiana, has recalled chicken and pasta meals linked to a deadly outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes.
The ready-to-eat products sold under multiple brand names were produced by FreshRealm, which has locations in California, Georgia, and Indiana. The affected products were shipped and sold nationwide and have been linked to 16 hospitalizations, three deaths, and one fetal loss. Individuals in more than a dozen states have been impacted, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What Is Listeria and Who Is Most at Risk?
Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes can include diarrhea and vomiting, as well as fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and even seizures in more severe cases. Mild intestinal symptoms will usually occur within 24 hours of eating food contaminated by Listeria. Those symptoms usually resolve within 1-3 days.
Those over age 65 and people who are pregnant are most at risk. Nearly 1 in 20 non-pregnant people suffering from what the CDC calls "invasive illness" caused by Listeria will become so severely ill that they will die. In pregnant women, "invasive illness" occurs when Listeria has spread from the intestines to other parts of the body, and "usually" causes a loss of pregnancy or life-threatening illness of the newborn.
Pregnant women: Fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. Your illness may be mild, but Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns. - CDC
Which Products Have Been Recalled?
The recalled products were sold at Walmart and Kroger stores across the country under the Marketside brand and the Home Chef brand. While the affected products are no longer in stores, they may still be in consumer freezers.
FreshRealm Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Meals may have been sold in the refrigerated sections of grocery stores and are intended for microwaving before eating. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased this product are advised to contact their retailer... FreshRealm Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Meals were distributed nationwide and are sold in the refrigerated section at Walmart and Kroger stores under the Marketside and Home Chef brand names, respectively. This advisory will be updated as needed. - U.S. Food and Drug Administration
How to Identify Recalled Chicken Meals
The recalled Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Meals are marked with the establishment number "EST. P-50784," "EST. P-47770," or "EST. P-47718" inside the USDA mark of inspection. They also have best by dates of 06/27/25, 06/26/25, and 06/19/25 or earlier.
What to Do If You Have the Recalled Meals
According to the FDA, if you have these products in your refrigerator or freezer, dispose of them immediately. Do not consume them. Additionally, your refrigerator or freezer, along with any containers or surfaces that may have come into contact with the products, should be cleaned and disinfected.
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