WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for FSIS-inspected ready-to-eat meals produced by FreshRealm containing a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated ingredient, specifically spinach, that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). FSIS expects additional affected products to be identified and will update this public health alert as more information becomes available. Consumers should check back frequently.
The problem was discovered when FreshRealm notified FSIS that the spinach used in these products tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.
The following products are subject to the public health alert [view labels]:
- 10.1-oz. containers of “HELLO FRESH READY MADE MEALS CHEESY PULLED PORK PEPPER PASTA” with establishment number “Est. 47718” and lot code 49107 or establishment number “Est. 2937” and lot code 48840. This item was shipped directly to consumers by HelloFresh.
- 10-oz. containers of “HELLO FRESH READY MADE MEALS UNSTUFFED PEPPERS WITH GROUND TURKEY” with establishment number “P-47718” and lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698. This item was shipped directly to consumers by HelloFresh.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
FSIS is concerned that these products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
- Consumers with questions regarding the public health alert can contact FreshRealm’s customer service hotline at 1-888-244-1562 or customerservice@freshrealm.com.
- Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
Why this matters
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes after gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnancy, infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. People in higher-risk groups who develop flu-like illness within two months of eating possibly contaminated food should seek medical care and mention the exposure. (Treatment is typically with antibiotics.)
What consumers should do now
- Do not eat the products listed above.
- Throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
- Clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that may have touched the products.
- If you have eaten the products and are in a higher-risk group, monitor for symptoms and contact a healthcare provider if they develop.
ANOTHER RECALL: On September 30, 2025, there was also a recall listed for Home Chef products for due to a listeria outbreak. It appears the concern focuses on their Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo and their Marketside Linguine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), residents in 14 states across the country have reported illnesses linked to the outbreak. So far, there have been no confirmed reports in Tennessee, but cases have been identified in neighboring states such as North Carolina and Missouri. Health officials warn that this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known cases, and the actual number of illnesses is likely higher than currently reported. This is because some individuals recover without medical treatment and are never tested for Listeria.
