In June 2025, FreshRealm issued a voluntary recall of three refrigerated chicken fettuccine alfredo meals after federal investigations linked them to a nationwide Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. These ready-to-eat meals were sold under the Marketside (Walmart) and Home Chef (Kroger) brands and bear USDA establishment numbers EST. P‑50784, P‑47770, or P‑47718.
The Outbreak
Between August 2024 and May 2025, 17 individuals across 13 states became ill with listeriosis. The outbreak resulted in three deaths, one pregnancy loss, and 16 hospitalizations, thought to be linked to these meals. The CDC confirms this outbreak is ongoing and cautions that additional cases may surface.
How the Contamination Was Uncovered
A routine USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) sample in March 2025 tested positive for the outbreak’s same Listeria strain. Though that particular batch was destroyed before reaching consumers, testing of purchase records traced the bacteria back to distributed meals sold at Walmart and Kroger.
Recall Details
Affected products include:
- Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (32.8 oz, best-by June 27 or earlier)
- Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli (12.3 oz, best-by June 26 or earlier)
- Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (12.5 oz, best-by June 19 or earlier)
Consumers should either destroy the recalled meals or return them to the store for a refund.
Why Listeria Is So Serious
Listeria monocytogenes can grow even in fridge conditions, making it a particularly insidious pathogen. While many people experience mild symptoms like fever, muscle aches, or gastrointestinal upset, vulnerable populations face more severe risks. For pregnant women, elderly persons, and immunocompromised individuals, listeriosis may result in severe complications, including meningitis, miscarriage, or death. Symptoms may appear within two weeks of exposure, but can also take as long as 10 weeks.
What You Can Do
- Check your fridge for Marketside or Home Chef chicken fettuccine alfredo meals with the listed establishment numbers and best-by dates.
- Discard or return any recalled items immediately.
- Clean your fridge thoroughly, wiping down surfaces and containers exposed to the meals. Listeria can linger in refrigerated environments.
- Monitor for symptoms: If you are pregnant, elderly, or have a weakened immune system and develop fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal issues, or neurological signs, seek medical care right away.
What’s Next
FreshRealm is working with FSIS, CDC, and FDA to find the contamination source, which may lie in ingredients, headspace, or processing methods. Meanwhile, FSIS urges grocers to remove all implicated items from sale.
This outbreak highlights ongoing issues with ready-to-eat refrigerated meals, where product safety is harder to ensure. Listeria can slip through safety nets if cleaning, testing, or processing controls fail.
Protecting Yourself
- Stay vigilant for recalls and outbreaks. Sign up for alerts from FSIS and FDA.
- Refrigerate ready-to-eat meals immediately after purchase and respect best-by dates.
- Clean your fridge regularly, especially after any recall.
- If you fall into a high-risk group, consider avoiding refrigerated RTE (ready-to-eat) meals unless reheated thoroughly to 165 °F.
Final Note
The FreshRealm chicken fettuccine alfredo recall is a sobering reminder that even pre-packaged, refrigerated meals can pose serious food-safety risks. With serious outcomes including multiple fatalities, this case underlines the importance of strict handling practices, thorough cleaning, and staying informed on recalls. For high-risk consumers, steering clear of implicated items and consulting healthcare providers about symptoms is vital.
