The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on Monday for FreshRealm’s ready-to-eat meals—shipped directly to consumers by HelloFresh—due to possible contamination from listeria.
HelloFresh is a German-based meal-kit company operating in the United States and globally in Europe, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
FreshRealm notified FSIS that the spinach used in the products tested positive for listeria bacteria. So far, no illnesses have been reported.
However, FSIS said it expected additional products to be affected and asked consumers to check this public health alert frequently, as the agency will update it when more information becomes available.
Last month, FreshRealm said tests confirmed that pasta used in linguine dishes sold at Walmart contained the same strain of listeria linked to a deadly outbreak in June—originally tied to chicken fettuccine alfredo—that killed at least four people and sickened 20, The Associated Press noted.
Here’s what to know about this week’s alert.
What is listeria, and what are the symptoms of infection?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Listeria monocytogenes is a type of disease-causing bacteria that is generally transmitted when food is harvested, processed, prepared, packed, transported, or stored in manufacturing or production environments contaminated with the bacteria.
Infection can lead to severe symptoms—such as abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and diarrhea—and poses a particular risk to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
What is the product information for the alert?
Here are the details of the products mentioned in the alert:
- Product Name: HELLOFRESH READY-MADE MEALS CHEESY PULLED PORK PEPPER PASTA
- Establishment number and lot codes: Est. 47718 and lot code 49107, or Est. 2937 and lot code 48840
- Package size and type: 10.1-ounce containers
- Product Name: HELLOFRESH READY-MADE MEALS UNSTUFFED PEPPERS WITH GROUND TURKEY
- Establishment number and lot codes: Establishment number P-47718 and lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698
- Package size and type: 10-ounce containers
What if I have these products in my refrigerator or freezer?
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. Instead, these products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Consumers with questions may contact FreshRealm’s customer service hotline toll-free at 1-888-244-1562 or at customerservice@freshrealm.com.