USDA Issues Warning on Hello Fresh Meals Containing Contaminated Spinach
Federal health authorities have issued a warning for select Hello Fresh ready-made meals that may contain spinach contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the public health alert late Monday, urging consumers to avoid eating specific meal kits produced by FreshRealm, a California-based company currently linked to an expanding listeria outbreak involving heat-and-eat pasta dishes.
The alert applies to two Hello Fresh Ready Made Meals: Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta in 10.1-ounce containers and Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey in 10-ounce containers. Both products were shipped directly to customers. The pork pepper pasta can be identified with establishment numbers Est. 47718 (lot code 49107) or Est. 2937 (lot code 48840), while the unstuffed peppers are marked Est. P-47718 with lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698.
The issue came to light when FreshRealm informed the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service that the frozen spinach used in the meals tested positive for listeria. The spinach was supplied by Sno Pac Foods of Caledonia, Minnesota, through their distributor, Del Mar Foods of Watsonville, California. Fortunately, the listeria strain identified in the spinach does not match any known outbreak, and no related illnesses have been reported, according to FreshRealm officials.
Growing Concerns Over Listeria Outbreaks
This warning follows a series of listeria-related recalls involving FreshRealm and other food manufacturers. Last month, FreshRealm confirmed that pasta used in linguine dishes sold at Walmart tested positive for the same listeria strain linked to a June outbreak. That outbreak, originally traced to chicken fettuccine Alfredo, has resulted in at least four deaths and 20 illnesses, with the most recent case reported on September 11.
Further investigation revealed that the contaminated pasta was supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods in Roseville, California. As a result, major retailers such as Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Albertsons have since recalled various pasta salads and ready-made dishes that may contain listeria-contaminated ingredients from Nate’s Fine Foods.
Listeria is a serious bacterial infection that can cause severe health complications, particularly among vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women or newborns. Symptoms often include fever, muscle aches, stiff neck, headache, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,600 people contract listeria each year, and about 260 die from the infection. Federal health officials have since pledged to strengthen food safety protocols after several high-profile outbreaks, including one last year linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, which caused 10 deaths and more than 60 illnesses.
Consumers who have purchased the affected Hello Fresh meals are urged not to consume them and to dispose of them immediately. Those concerned about possible infection should contact their healthcare provider, especially if they experience symptoms consistent with listeriosis.
As investigations continue, the USDA and CDC are working with FreshRealm and its suppliers to prevent further contamination and ensure the safety of meal delivery services nationwide.
