A dangerous listeria outbreak has spread with deadly consequences in what can only be described as a massive food safety oversight.
Contaminated ready-to-eat meals sold at Walmart and Kroger have already killed three Americans and caused one fetal loss.
The tragedy raises serious questions about how and why these contaminated products made it onto shelves for months.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has urged consumers not to eat certain chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals sold under Walmart’s Marketside and Kroger’s Home Chef brands.
The outbreak has been traced to FreshRealm facilities in San Clemente, California; Montezuma, Georgia; and Indianapolis, Indiana, with the deadly bacteria sickening 17 people across 13 states.
While the government continues its investigation, hard-working Americans are left wondering how such dangerous food contamination could happen.
FreshRealm has only now initiated a voluntary recall, despite the earliest cases being reported back in August 2024.
The affected products were distributed nationwide and have expiration dates of June 27, 2025, or earlier.
The FSIS appears to be scrambling to contain the situation, saying it “is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.”
This warning comes far too late for the families who have already suffered devastating losses.
The agency admitted that 16 of the 17 reported cases required hospitalization, highlighting the severe nature of this outbreak.
Texas reported the highest number of cases with three, followed by Michigan with two.
Other affected states include Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The most recent illness was reported in May, suggesting the contamination persisted in the supply chain for months.
Meanwhile, FreshRealm appears to be downplaying the connection between its products and the deaths.
In a statement, the company claimed it “has not received any direct reports of illness associated with the product,” while admitting they initiated the recall “out of an abundance of caution.”
The FSIS added in its recall alert:
“FSIS is sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettuccine alfredo may be the source of this strain of Listeria.”
Consumers who have purchased these products are advised to check their refrigerators and freezers immediately.
The recalled items bear USDA inspection marks with establishment numbers EST. P-50784, EST. P-47770, and EST. P-47718.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of listeria poisoning, which include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and gastrointestinal issues, should seek medical care immediately.
