FDA Recalls Ready-to-Eat Products From 3 Brand Names After Listeria Outbreak in California

A popular food brand has pulled dozens of its products from shelves across four states. What triggered the sudden recall has federal health officials on high alert.

Federal health officials have issued a sweeping recall of ready-to-eat foods from three brand names following a Listeria outbreak that has hospitalized 10 people in California and one other state. The affected products were traced back to Fresh & Ready Foods LLC, a company based in San Fernando, California.

The recall covers products sold under the following brand names:

• Fresh & Ready Foods
• City Point Market Fresh Food to Go
• Fresh Take Crave Away

These ready-to-eat items, including sandwiches and snack packs, are identified by "Use By" dates ranging from April 22, 2025, to May 19, 2025. These products require no additional cooking and are typically consumed as purchased.

The recalled foods were distributed between April 18 and April 28, 2025, and sold across four states: Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington. They were available at various venues — retailers, hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, and even airlines.

The FDA and CDC, working with state and local health agencies, have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes tied to these ready-to-eat foods. Though the initial probe began in 2024, there was not enough evidence at the time to confirm a source.

That changed in April 2025, when FDA inspectors discovered Listeria in environmental samples during a routine check at Fresh & Ready Foods’ facility. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed that the strain matched the one infecting patients.

Epidemiological interviews added further weight to the findings. All six patients who provided information reported hospitalization. Food service records showed that items from Fresh & Ready Foods had been served at three of those facilities.

As of May 9, 2025, 10 confirmed cases have been reported in California and Nevada. Each of the 10 individuals has been hospitalized, but no deaths have been recorded.

In light of the outbreak, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC has voluntarily recalled the implicated products. Public health officials are urging consumers to check their fridges and dispose of any affected items.

Recalled items include bistro snack boxes, sandwiches on various breads, croissants, subs, and pasta salads. Some examples include:

Fresh & Ready Foods:

• Breakfast Bistro Box
• Caprese Baguette
• Turkey & Cheese Multigrain Sandwich
• El Cubano Sandwich
• Garlic Pesto Pasta
• Almonds & Chocolate Snack
• Beef Cheesesteak Sub Sandwich
• Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich

City Point Market Fresh Food to Go:

• PB&J Crunch on Country White
• Turkey & Cheese on Wheat Sandwich
• Club Supreme Sub Sandwich
• Protein Snack

Fresh Take Crave Away:

• Italian Hoagie Sub Sandwich
• Turkey Cranberry Multigrain Sandwich
• Chicken Salad on Wheat Sandwich
• Mike’s Tuna Mac Pasta
• Street Corn Dipper Snack

All items were packaged in plastic containers. Due to the large number of products — more than 100 distinct items — consumers are urged to consult the full product list available on the FDA's recall notice page for detailed stock-keeping unit numbers and expiration dates.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the FDA continues to monitor for additional cases. Consumers who believe they have purchased or consumed recalled items are advised to contact their healthcare providers if they experience symptoms consistent with Listeria infection, such as fever, muscle aches, or gastrointestinal distress.

Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium behind this outbreak, is a serious foodborne pathogen. Infection typically occurs when someone eats food contaminated with the bacteria. Diagnosis is confirmed through laboratory tests that detect Listeria in a patient's body.

According to statistics, Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Though anyone can be affected, certain groups face much higher risks of severe illness.

While healthy individuals may experience only mild symptoms, Listeria can cause life-threatening complications in vulnerable populations.

Those most at risk include newborns, adults aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. For these individuals, prompt medical care is critical when symptoms arise.

Even though others can contract the bacteria, they rarely develop severe symptoms. Public health officials continue to emphasize preventive measures, especially for those in high-risk groups, as the investigation into this outbreak continues.

We previously reported that in November, a dangerous E. coli outbreak swept through 15 U.S. states, quietly leaving behind a trail of illness and at least one death.

A 9-year-old boy in Indiana nearly died of kidney failure, and a 57-year-old woman in Missouri fell ill after attending a funeral lunch. But despite the severity and spread, there was no public announcement, no warnings, and no names. And most Americans never heard about it.

It wasn't until February that the Food and Drug Administration quietly closed its investigation. Even then, the agency gave no public explanation. No mention of which companies had grown or processed the contaminated romaine lettuce.

Still, an internal FDA report, obtained by NBC News, offered some insight. By the time investigators identified the likely source of the outbreak, no contaminated lettuce remained. With no sample to test and no ongoing threat, the FDA chose not to name the firms involved.

"There were no public communications related to this outbreak," the report stated. It confirmed that someone had died, but offered no further details. Federal law does not require the FDA to disclose all foodborne illness outbreaks.

In some cases, it may withhold information if the source is unclear, or if it’s still working with the companies involved behind the scenes. But the silence raised concerns. "It is disturbing that FDA hasn’t said anything more public or identified the name of a grower or processor, said Frank Yiannas, who served as a senior FDA official upto to 2023.

He then warned that withholding such information could leave consumers vulnerable. "Someone could have been sickened...and not realized the cause," he said. In some cases, foodborne bacteria like E. coli can cause lasting health damage.

The FDA defended its approach. A spokesperson said the agency names companies only when there is solid evidence linking them to the outbreak, and when there is actionable advice for consumers. In this instance, by the time the source was identified, the contaminated lettuce was already gone from the shelves.

The agency added that it continues to provide critical updates about recalls and investigations related to foodborne outbreaks. Still, the lack of transparency in this case has drawn criticism. Food safety advocates worry it sets a troubling precedent.

Case records show that 89 people were infected in a widespread outbreak spanning 15 states. Victims ranged in age from just 4 to 90 years. Missouri saw the worst of it, with 50 reported cases — more than half the total. Indiana and Ohio followed, each reporting eight illnesses. Illinois had seven.

Nebraska saw three, while Arkansas, North Dakota, and Wisconsin each had two. The remaining states — Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Tennessee — each recorded a single case. The numbers reveal a scattered but serious outbreak, touching nearly every corner of the country.

The full impact may, however, never be known. Some people may still be recovering. Others may never have connected their illness to the outbreak. But one thing is certain: a deadly pathogen spread across a wide swath of the country, and the public was never told.

E. coli is a familiar name, but its dangers often remain misunderstood. While many strains of this common bacterium live harmlessly in the human gut, others can turn deadly.

Some strains can attach to human cells and release toxins. These toxins can cause a range of illnesses, from mild stomach cramps to severe infections. One of the most dangerous types, E. coli O157:H7, produces Shiga toxin. This strain can cause life-threatening complications, including kidney failure.

That same strain was behind the national outbreak in late 2024. St. Louis County, which became an epicenter, reported 115 cases linked to local school events and a banquet facility, Andre’s Banquets and Catering. Thirteen people were hospitalized; two remained in care as the investigation neared its end.

Genetic testing linked 25 of those cases directly to Andre’s. Officials described this as the largest identified subcluster tied to the broader national outbreak. Infections were also reported in Kansas, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, and Indiana, with leafy greens emerging as a common thread in most cases.

The St. Louis-area cases, however, stood out. Health officials noted that illness rates tied to events in the region were significantly higher than in other parts of the country.

On November 25, 2024, the CDC's PulseNet network coded the outbreak strain as E. coli O157:H7 2411MOEXH-2. Cases ranged from early November to the start of December, all genetically linked within a small margin — just 0 to 4 alleles apart — a clear sign of a connected outbreak.

In the aftermath, speculation grew around possible sources. Taylor Farms, a major produce supplier, was among those questioned. But in an April 2025 statement, the company strongly denied any connection.

"Taylor Farms product WAS NOT the source of the referenced 2024 E. coli outbreak," the company stated. "We perform extensive raw and finished product testing on all our product and there was no evidence of contamination. Any reporting that connects Taylor Farms products to these heartbreaking illnesses is dangerous, irresponsible and unfair to the impacted families."

There’s another twist: E. coli O157:H7 is typically associated with livestock and doesn’t originate in fresh produce. The FDA, which led the investigation, faced a fundamental obstacle — it isn't authorized to inspect the beef industry. That gap in oversight may have hindered the search for answers.