A listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat food products has sickened at least 10 people in the U.S., prompting a voluntary recall by producer Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California, according to federal officials. The affected individuals, who required hospitalization, were located in California and Nevada. The products associated with the outbreak were distributed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington through various retailers and food service outlets. Symptoms of listeria typically manifest within two weeks of consuming contaminated food, with mild cases characterized by fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea. More severe symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. The investigation into the outbreak began last year, and evidence linking the infections to Fresh & Ready Foods was established when listeria was detected in samples from the company that matched the outbreak strain. The producer has taken immediate corrective actions, and recalled products with “use by” dates between April 22 and May 19 under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away.
