72 hospitalized with 19 dead in 3 Listeria Outbreaks – Do victims even know?

When a consumer tests positive for Listeria monocytogenes, local and state health departments spring into action. They ask the victim and/or the family what the consumer has been consuming in the last 3 to 70 days (not a typo). They collect blood and/or spinal fluid tests and send those to the state labs for genetic testing. The health departments secure medical records, shopping records, credit and debit card receipts. The health departments might call victims and families multiple times – at times while hospitalized at home or at a funeral. The goal of the health department is to isolate the likely cause of the illness and to get the product off the market so others are not sickened.

Here is the rub, after collecting all the above information for victims or the surviving family, health departments seldom call back – after collecting all that data – and let folks know what sickened them or killed a family member.

Why?

FreshRealm and Nate’s Fine Foods Listeria Outbreak: As of September 25, 2025, a total of 20 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 15 states. Sick people’s samples were collected on dates ranging from August 1, 2024, to September 11, 2025. Of 20 people with information available, 19 have been hospitalized and 4 deaths have been reported. One each from Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah. One pregnancy-associated illness resulted in a fetal loss. 

On March 19, 2025, FSIS identified the outbreak strain in a routine sample of FreshRealm chicken fettuccine alfredo. FreshRealm tested products and ingredients. A beef meatball linguine marinara meal tested positive for the outbreak strain. These products were not distributed. FreshRealm tested ingredients used in the meals and pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods was confirmed to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. WGS is pending to determine if this is the same strain making people sick.

Fresh & Ready Foods Listeria Outbreak: A total of 10 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria were reported from two states. Sick people’s samples were collected from December 3, 2023, to September 9, 2024. Of the 10 people with information available, all 10 were hospitalized. One death was reported from Nevada.

On March 31, 2025, FDA collected environmental samples for testing at Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC. WGS showed that the Listeria in the environmental isolates were closely related to bacteria from sick people. This means that people likely got sick from eating ready-to-eat foods made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC. Records reviewed from facilities indicated that ready-to-eat foods made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC were served in three facilities.

Prairie Farms Listeria Outbreak: A total of 42 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from 21 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 17, 2018, to March 13, 2025. Of 42 people with information available, 41 were hospitalized. A total of 14 deaths were reported from 9 states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Most people in this outbreak reported living in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick.

CDC investigated this outbreak in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Epidemiologic data in previous investigations identified that sick people were residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes and the likely source was a food served in those types of institutions, but there was not enough information to identify a specific food. CDC reopened the investigation in October 2024 after six new illnesses were reported. In February 2025 after traceback identified a product of interest, the outbreak strain was found in environmental samples from Prairie Farms.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.