Health officials have issued a warning regarding certain HelloFresh meal kits that may be contaminated with listeria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a public health alert on Monday concerning these meals.
Details of the HelloFresh Meal Kits Affected
The meals, produced by FreshRealm, a company based in San Clemente, California, are linked to a growing listeria outbreak. The affected products are:
- HelloFresh Ready Made Meals Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta: 10.1-ounce containers identified with establishment numbers Est. 47718 and lot code 49107 or Est. 2937 and lot code 48840.
- HelloFresh Ready Made Meals Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey: 10-ounce containers identified with Est. P-47718 and lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698.
Source of Contamination
The contamination issue arose when FreshRealm informed the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service about positive listeria tests on the quick-frozen spinach used in these meal kits. This spinach was sourced from Sno Pac Foods in Caledonia, Minnesota, via their supplier, Del Mar Foods from Watsonville, California.
Current Status and Health Risks
FreshRealm has stated that the detected strain of listeria does not align with any known outbreaks, and no illnesses have been reported due to these specific meal kits. However, listeria infections can pose serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations, including older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
Each year, approximately 1,600 cases of listeria infections occur in the United States, resulting in about 260 deaths, according to CDC data.
Related Outbreaks and Industry Response
FreshRealm recently reported that testing confirmed a strain of listeria in pasta used in linguine dishes sold at Walmart. This issue was linked to a previous outbreak that began in June, associated with chicken fettuccine Alfredo, which resulted in at least four deaths and 20 illnesses. Health officials are taking steps to revise safety protocols in light of recent incidents, including a high-profile outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meats that caused ten deaths and over sixty illnesses.
As the situation unfolds, consumers are urged to stay informed on food safety guidelines and to heed warnings regarding potential listeria contamination in food products.
