The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and public health officials are currently investigating a multi-state Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) outbreak that has sickened 17 individuals across 13 states. The outbreak has resulted in three deaths and one fetal loss as of June 17, 2025.
On Tuesday, June 17, the FSIS announced that FreshRealm had issued a recall for several chicken fettuccine alfredo products because they were possibly contaminated with the outbreak strain of Listeria.
Health officials have confirmed that the outbreak strain of Listeria affected people between August 2024 and May 2025. Laboratory testing revealed the same bacterial strain in a routine sample of chicken fettuccine alfredo collected from a FreshRealm facility in March 2025.
The contaminated product lot was immediately quarantined during the sampling process and subsequently destroyed before reaching consumers. Despite extensive investigation of the manufacturing facility and product ingredients, authorities have not yet determined the contamination source.
Federal investigators utilized purchase records from two patients to trace chicken fettuccine alfredo products back to FreshRealm facilities. Two additional patients provided verbal descriptions of similar products they had purchased. Follow-up investigations at retail locations where these patients shopped confirmed the presence of matching FreshRealm products.
No information is available yet as to where the victims are located and their demographics (age, sex, race, ethnicity).
The investigation remains active as federal food safety officials collaborate with public health partners to determine whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettuccine alfredo products may be responsible for the Listeria contamination.
Listeriosis, the infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is particularly dangerous for certain vulnerable populations. Those who are pregnant, people aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems are at highest risk. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. Leading Listeria law firm Ron Simon & Associates says that in pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns.
Listeria is a common cause of foodborne illness and outbreaks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are actively investigating another Listeria outbreak tied to ready-to-eat foods from Fresh & Ready Foods LLC.
Last month, federal health officials closed an investigation into another outbreak of Listeria linked to frozen nutritional shakes served at long-term care facilities and hospitals. That outbreak resulted in 42 infections, 41 hospitalizations, and 14 deaths across 21 states.
