The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a health alert regarding specific Hello Fresh meal kits due to potential listeria contamination. The alert pertains to meal kits produced by FreshRealm, based in San Clemente, California. This warning comes amid an ongoing listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat pasta meals.
Details of the Health Alert
The affected products include:
- 10.1-ounce containers of Hello Fresh Ready Made Meals Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta
- 10-ounce containers of Hello Fresh Ready Made Meals Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey
These meals were shipped directly to customers. Specific lot codes associated with the pork pepper pasta are:
- Est. 47718 and lot code 49107
- Est. 2937 and lot code 48840
For the unstuffed peppers with ground turkey, the identifiers are:
- Est. P-47718 and lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698
Investigation Findings
The issue came to light when FreshRealm informed the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service that spinach in the meals tested positive for listeria. This is part of a broader outbreak that previously involved linguine dishes sold at Walmart, confirming the same strain of listeria linked to a June outbreak.
Outbreak Statistics
This earlier outbreak was connected to chicken fettuccine Alfredo and resulted in:
- 4 deaths
- 20 illnesses, with the latest case reported on September 11
Genetic testing confirmed that the listeria strain was found in pasta supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods, based in Roseville, California. Multiple retailers, including Kroger and Albertson’s, have recalled related products due to potential contamination.
Health Risks of Listeria
Listeria infections pose significant health risks, especially for:
- Older adults
- Individuals with weakened immune systems
- Pregnant women and their newborns
Common symptoms of listeria infection include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,600 people fall ill from listeria annually, leading to about 260 deaths.
Future Prevention Measures
Federal officials announced in December plans to enhance protocols to prevent listeria infections in light of several outbreaks. One notable case involved Boar’s Head deli meats, resulting in 10 fatalities and over 60 illnesses in the previous year.
