USDA Issues Public Health Alert for Hello Fresh Meal Kits Due to Listeria Contamination
Federal health officials have issued a public health alert warning consumers not to eat certain Hello Fresh subscription meal kits containing spinach that may be contaminated with listeria. The alert was issued by the U.S. Agriculture Department after FreshRealm, the company that produced the meals, notified the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service that the spinach used in the products tested positive for listeria bacteria.
The affected products include 10.1-ounce containers of Hello Fresh Ready Made Meals Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta and 10-ounce containers of Hello Fresh Ready Made Meals Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey. These products were shipped directly to consumers and can be identified by specific establishment numbers and lot codes. For example, the pork pepper pasta is identified with establishment number Est. 47718 and lot code 49107 or Est. 2937 and lot code 48840.
Background on the Listeria Outbreak
This alert is linked to an expanding listeria outbreak tied to heat-and-eat pasta meals produced by FreshRealm. Last month, the company reported that tests confirmed the presence of the same strain of listeria linked to an outbreak in June, which has killed at least four people and sickened 20. The most recent illness was reported on September 11. Genetic testing found the outbreak strain of listeria in samples of pasta made and supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California.
Several other companies, including Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Albertson’s, have recalled pasta salads and other dishes made with products from Nate’s Fine Foods due to potential listeria contamination. Listeria infections can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and women who are pregnant or their newborns. Symptoms of listeria infections include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Understanding Listeria Infections
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1,600 people get sick each year from listeria infections, and approximately 260 die. Federal officials have been working to revamp protocols to prevent listeria infections after several high-profile outbreaks, including one linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that led to 10 deaths and more than 60 illnesses last year.
For consumers who have purchased the affected Hello Fresh meal kits, it is essential to discard them immediately to avoid the risk of listeria infection. Anyone with questions about the situation can contact FreshRealm’s customer service hotline at 1-888-244-1562 or customerservice@freshrealm.com.
For more information on this public health alert and the ongoing listeria outbreak, visit Here for the latest updates and guidance from federal health officials.
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