By IDSE News Staff
Two separate listeria outbreaks have hospitalized dozens of people in the last year and caused 14 deaths, according to two new notices from the FDA and CDC.
Ready-to-Eat Food
Ten people have been hospitalized with Listeria monocytogenes infections after eating ready-to-eat food in California and Nevada.
The ready-to-eat food, like sandwiches and protein snacks, was sold by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC under the names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go and Fresh Take Crave Away to retail stores, hospitals, hotels, airports and airlines in Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington, according to the CDC. The food had “best by” dates of April 22 to May 19.
All 10 infected people became sick between Dec. 3, 2023, and Sept. 9, 2024, meaning no new patients have been identified in 2025. However, the CDC reports that a recent environmental sample positive for Listeria was collected from the food producer, and new illnesses can take three to four weeks to be identified as part of the outbreak.
All of the patients who shared diet information (n=6) were hospitalized for other reasons and came down with Listeria while under care.
The CDC said it began investigating this outbreak in 2024, and while ready-to-eat food was suspected, there was not enough evidence at the time to link the cases to food. The CDC reopened the investigation in April 2025 when the environmental samples were identified as the outbreak strain of the 10 patients.
The 10 patients range from 41 to 87 years of age, with 90% identifying as male and 10% as female. Of the patients who identified their race (n=7), the majority are white (57%), but also African American/Black (29%) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (14%). Most identified as non-Hispanic (75% of eight patients).
On May 10, Fresh & Ready Foods LLC recalled some of its ready-to-eat foods, and the CDC advises the public to avoid eating, selling or serving recalled products.
Frozen Supplemental Shakes
An outbreak of a Listeria monocytogenes strain in frozen supplemental shakes (similar to milkshakes) has infected 42 people from 21 states, as of May 16, 2025. Of the 42 people with information available, almost all (n=41) have been hospitalized, and 14 deaths have been reported.
The outbreak was traced back to Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial frozen supplemental shakes manufactured by Prairie Farms from the Prairie Farms Dairy facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In response to this investigation, Lyons Magnus LLC voluntarily recalled 4 oz. Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial frozen supplemental shakes with best by dates of 022125 to 022126 (Feb. 21, 2025 – Feb. 21, 2026). The FDA says that no recalled frozen supplemental shakes should be available on the market. The outbreak, which was investigated by the FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, is now considered over.
Based on CDC and FDA materials.
