Alert: Listeria Contamination Traced in Over Ninety Varieties of Sandwiches and Snacks, Including Costco and Other Store Brands
Warning: The following post discusses food safety issues and potential health risks. Please read at your own discretion.
Breaking News: Fresh & Ready Foods Voluntarily Recalls Nearly 100 Ready-to-Eat Products Due to Listeria Contamination
It's time to double-check your kitchen shelves, folks! Over 90 different ready-to-eat items, such as snacks, salads, and sandwiches produced by Fresh & Ready Foods are being pulled off the market due to the possibility of Listeria monocytogenes contamination. As we speak, approximately 10 individuals have been hospitalized following Listeria infections linked to these products.
Ol' Listeria, y'all know it's dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has underlined that this little bugger can lead to hospitalization or even death – especially for pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Symptoms of a Listeria infection, also known as listeriosis, can manifest the day you consume the contaminated food or up to 10 weeks later. Be on the lookout for fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
These recalled products have been sold at Costco and other shops, boasting Use By dates ranging from 4/22/2025 to 5/19/2025, and were marketed under three brand names: Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away. They were distributed at a variety of locations, including hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports, airlines, and, you guessed it, good ol' Costco. At this moment, the recall has been confirmed in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington, but the investigation is still underway, with other states potentially affected.
With that said, here are the Fresh & Ready products sold exclusively at Costco that you need to be aware of:
- Turkey Bacon Club Sandwich, item number 1651757
- Turkey and Cheese Sandwich on Multigrain, item number 1013849
- Garlic Pesto Salad, item number 1013844
- Ham and Cheese Sandwich on Multigrain, item number 1013852
- Turkey and Cheese Croissant, item number 1651759
- Egg Salad Sandwich, item number 1653781
For the complete list of recalled items and more information, head over to the FDA recall notice. If you still have one of these products in your fridge, please toss it in the trash promptly and avoid consuming it. You can contact Fresh & Ready Foods at [email protected] or give them a shout at 1-855-424-8390 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST to receive a refund or ask questions about the recall.
Now, you might be wondering: Are food recalls really on the rise? Well, buckle up, because we're trending upwards. A food microbiologist weighed in on the topic, and here's the gist of it:
- Pathogens on the Rise: There's been a 41% increase in recalls linked to Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli compared to the previous year, according to a 2025 report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund[1]. Uh-oh.
- Increased Recall Activity: The number of food items recalled by the FDA increased by 232% in Q1 2025, marking the second-highest volume ever recorded in the past two years[3][5]. Wowsers.
- Improved Detection: Enhanced technology for detecting harmful pathogens means more recalls. Who would've thought?!
- Regulatory Pressure: Stricter regulations and increased vigilance from the FDA and USDA are contributing to more frequent recalls.
- Supply Chain Complexity: Complex supply chains can lead to increased risk of contamination, making recalls more frequent.
- Public Awareness: Increased reporting of food safety issues may also be a factor in the perceived increase in recalls.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Fresh & Ready Foods recall. In the meantime, wash your hands often, keep your kitchen clean, and remember: when it comes to food safety, better safe than super sick! 🤓🥗🙌💩👎👀🤒🤒🤒
- The CDC has warned that Listeria monocytogenes can lead to severe health risks, including hospitalization and even death, especially for specific groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
- Food safety expert reports indicate a rise in food recalls due to pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli, with a 41% increase compared to the previous year in a 2025 report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.
- In an effort to combat foodborne illnesses, regulators like the FDA and USDA have increased their vigilance and issued stricter regulations, contributing to more frequent recalls in the food industry.
- In light of the Fresh & Ready Foods recall, it's crucial to wash hands frequently, keep your kitchen clean, and follow proper food handling and storage guidelines, like storing food in a proper manner and disposing of recalled products immediately, as mentioned in Real Simple articles on health-and-wellness, food-and-drink, and lifestyle.
- With the rise in food recalls and to stay up-to-date on the latest medical-conditions and food safety issues, it's essential to consult trusted sources, like the FDA recall notices and well-respected science and health publications, such as Science Daily and the New England Journal of Medicine, to ensure you are making informed decisions about your health and the food you consume.
