Urgent recall for sandwiches and snacks over listeria outbreak with 10 ill in US
Dozens of ready-to-eat sandwiches and snacks have been recalled amid a listeria outbreak that has left at least 10 people hospitalized in the US.
Fresh & Ready Foods LLC has recalled 86 of its prepared food items including sandwiches, pastas and snacks, after an investigation into the outbreak linked back to its facilities.
Two federal health agencies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), started investigating the outbreak last year, but were unable at the time to find the source.
In April of this year, the FDA reopened the investigation and found traces of listeria while doing a routine inspection of products from Fresh & Ready Foods, according to an update by the agency on Saturday.
'Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis confirmed that the strain of Listeria found at Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC matches the strain of Listeria causing illnesses in this outbreak,' stated an FDA advisory.
As of Saturday, 10 people were infected with the listeria monocytogenes strain in California and Nevada, and all of them were hospitalized.
The voluntarily recall initiated by the company based in San Fernando, California, includes sandwiches of a variety of meats and breads, bistro boxes, pasta salads, protein snacks and sweet snacks.
Some specific items are the 7.5-ounce Turkey & Cheese Mega Sandwich, the 4-ounce Breakfast Bistro Box, the 9-ounce Garlic Pesto Pasta, and the 3-ounce Almonds & Chocolate Snack.
Besides Fresh & Ready Foods, affected items were sold under the brand names City Point Market Fresh Food to Go and Fresh Take Crave Away.
They were distributed from April 18 to April 28, 2025, at hospitals, convenience stores, hotels, airports and by airlines, in Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington. More Trending
Listeria symptoms usually begin within two weeks of consuming contaminated food, but can occur the same day and 10 weeks after, according to the FDA.
Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle aches, fever and tiredness. Symptoms in more serious listeria cases include convulsions, confusion, balance loss, stiff neck and headache.
Among those most prone to listeria and becoming seriously ill from it are pregnant women, newborns and people aged 65 or older.
It comes a day after Utah-based New Grains Gluten Free Bakery recalled more than a dozen of its savory and sweet breads and baked goods because of three undeclared allergens that could cause 'life-threatening' allergic reactions.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Supermarket recalls chicken products over 'diarrhoea and meningitis' fears
MORE: Trump calls European Union 'in many ways nastier than China'
MORE: Boys in Minecraft and Star Wars pyjamas aim loaded gun at police
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Popular US remedy recalled over ‘life-threatening fungi' with kids most at risk
Nasal and baby teething swabs sold across the US have been recalled over fears of contamination with fungi. Church & Dwight Co, Inc, announced on Friday it is recalling its Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam Nasal AllClear Swabs and Orajel Baby Teething Swabs on Friday 'due to potential microbial contamination identified as fungi in cotton swab components'. The swabs that are contaminated 'can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries', stated the announcement shared by the country's agency protecting public health. All lots of the three products are under the recall. Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, designed to shorten the common cold, have the UPC number 732216301205. Zicam Nasal AllClear Swabs, meant for cleansing, were discontinued in December 2024 and have the UPC number 732216301656. Orajel Baby Teething Swabs, designed to soothe discomfort from teething, have the UPC number 310310400002. They were distributed nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Customers should stop using the swabs immediately and contact the company for a full refund. More Trending There have not been any reports of illness from the swabs, but any concerns should be flagged to the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program. 'The risk is highest (potentially severe or life-threatening) among children and individuals with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions,' stated the notice from the FDA. Church & Dwight describes itself as a $4.9billion 'leading manufacturer of consumer household and personal care products' based in Ewing, New Jersey. It comes a few months after Ascent Consumer Products Inc recalled a lot of its SinuCleanse Soft Tip Squeeze Bottle Nasal Wash System nationwide due to tests confirming microbial contamination with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). That bacteria can also cause users with nasal mucosa inflammation or injuries to have blood infections. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Costco and Amazon fitness product sold almost 4,000,000 times recalled over broken bones MORE: Mums 'in love triangle' fought in school playground in front of children MORE: Popular clothing retailer to close almost 200 more stores in 2025
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent nationwide recall for OTC cold meds amid fears they could cause fatal fungal BRAIN infections
Officials have issued a recall for multiple cold remedy nasal swabs over fears of a fungi contamination that can cause deadly infections. The Food and Drug Administration has asked consumers to stop using Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam Nasal AllClear Swabs and Orajel Baby Teething Swabs immediately. According to manufacturer Church & Dwight Co., the cotton swab parts of each individual product may have a 'potential microbial contamination identified as fungi'. Officials warn that if used, the possible fungi contamination can cause serious and life-threatening blood infections in patients. The federal agency also noted that children and adults with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions were at the highest risk of developing a fatal infection. Because the swabs are insert deep in the nose, there is a risk the infection could travel to the brain. While it remains unclear which fungi has been found in the products, they can enter the body through contaminated medical products such as swabs, surgical procedures or simply through air and cause blood infections. The FDA has asked consumers to throw away both Zicam products with lot numbers 732216301205 and 732216301656 and Orajel products with number 310310400002. The agency has also asked consumers to reach out to the manufacturer for a full refund. As of now, no reports of illness or death have been revealed by the agency. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States and in Puerto Rico. While Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs and Orajel Baby Teething Swabs continue to be sold and available in pharmacies, Zicam Nasal AllClear Swabs were discontinued in December 2024. Additionally, the FDA assured consumers that all other Zicam and Orajel products, including Zicam RapidMelts are safe to use to cure colds. Both of the recalled Zicam nasal swabs are meant to soothe and shorten the duration of a cold by rubbing the gel-covered cotton part of the swab inside each nostril. According to the company's website, the gel formula covering the swabs contain plant-based active ingredients including Galphimia glauca, Luffa operculata and Sabadilla. Similarly, the Orajel Baby Teething Swabs are used to to help soothe infants who may be teething, upset, cranky or fussy. However in this case, rubbing the contaminated part of swab inside your nostril or inside the mouth may introduce the fungi into your bloodstream and cause an infection. To fight the infection, the immune system releases chemicals into the bloodstream that can cause widespread inflammation in the body. This can lead to sepsis - which can cause damage to tissues, organ failure and death. Treatment for a blood infection typically involves antifungal medications. In a statement, the FDA explained: 'Swabs found to contain microbial contamination can potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and mechanical injuries.' Typical symptoms of a fungi-caused blood infection include fever, chills, lethargy, and pain. If left untreated, it can lead to organ failure and in certain cases, death. In the US, the most common fungus known to cause bloodstream infections is Candida. About 25,000 Americans suffer from candida blood infections every year.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Warning over hair loss cream used by millions after doctors discover freaky side effect
Doctors have issued a warning about hair growth treatment minoxidil after a woman grew a beard. The 28-year-old reported using hair growth spray minoxidil to treat her hair loss caused by alopecia, suffered by 7million Americans that causes hair loss. Patients apply the medication, sold as a spray or foam, to the scalp and leave it in to absorb. However, the unnamed woman wore a wig during the day and cap at night, which causes the drug to be absorbed at much higher levels in her blood. It then traveled elsewhere in her body, causing uncontrollable hair growth in her face, arms and legs. Doctors say the 40million Americans who take the drug should be aware of the risks of wearing tight caps while taking it. Minoxidil, sold in the US under brand name Rogaine, is applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. It costs around $60 for a six-month supply. Doctors writing in as medical journal said: 'Exceeding this dose does not improve efficacy but significantly increases the risk of systemic absorption and adverse effects.' The FDA approved safe dose of the spray, which the woman used, is one milliter twice per day, or six sprays. While side effects are usually minor, such as scalp irritation or changes in hair texture or color, the drug has been linked to excess hair growth and loss. The woman in the case report was diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia, a form of hair loss caused by genetic predisposition or an imbalance of hormones like estrogen and androgens. Prior to treatment, the woman, from France, had a large bald spot on the top of her head. She had mild anemia and vitamin D, both of which can deprive hair follicles of oxygen and cause hair loss, but had no other health issues. Along with vitamin D and zinc supplements, she used five percent minoxidil spray twice a day for two months. She also had done three monthly sessions of LED therapy and plasma-rich plasma injections (PRP), which are meant to separate plasma from the blood and inject it back into the scalp. Plasma is rich in platelets, which have growth factors. After two months of minoxidil treatment, she returned to doctors with increased hair growth on her face, arms and legs. Doctors found wearing a wig during the day and a tight cap at night after applying minoxidil left the woman's scalp 'constantly occluded, day and night.' This means her scalp was constricted and hair follicles became blocked, leading the body to absorb higher amounts of minoxidil than if her hair follicles were still open. The doctors believe this lead to 'systemic absorption' of the drug and effectively a higher than safe dose. The experts wrote: 'Minoxidil is an effective treatment but can occasionally lead to hypertrichosis, especially when applied in high concentrations or over large areas of the body. 'This case illustrates the critical need for precise patient instruction on the correct application of topical therapies to prevent adverse systemic effects such as hypertrichosis.' The woman had laser hair removal on her face and stopped taking minoxidil. She continued with her other treatments.
