CLEVELAND, Ohio – A public health alert has been issued for ready-to-eat meals produced by FreshRealm, with riced cauliflower suspected of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Products included in this alert are not related to any ongoing outbreak investigations. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.
The products subject to the alert were sold by meal-delivery companies:
Sold by Blue Apron: 13.05-ounce plastic tray packages labeled DISH by Blue Apron Cheesy Chicken Mac with Vegetables with lot codes 25240 and 25247. The product bears establishment number P-3081.
Sold by Marley Spoon: 10.5-ounce packages labeled “BALANCE by Marley Spoon BBQ Sauce Beef Meatballs with Cheesy Cauliflower with lot code 25255. The product bears establishment number Est. 47718.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these groups are affected.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. The infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.
Persons in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should tell a healthcare provider about eating the contaminated food.
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to throw them away or return them to place of purchase.
More info
• Contact FreshRealm at customerservice@freshrealm.com or call the customer-service hotline, 888-244-1562.
• For details on recalls and food-safety questions, call the USDA meat and poultry hotline, 888-674-6854 or chat via Ask USDA 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Consumers can email questions to MPHotline@usda.gov. For those who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product, the electronic consumer-complaint monitoring system is online. Recalls are posted online.