Federal officials have issued a public health alert for two ready-to-eat Hello Fresh meal kits over fears they contain spinach contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the alert on Monday, advising consumers who received the specific meals to dispose of them immediately. The products were shipped directly to Hello Fresh subscribers nationwide.
The alert is connected to a wider, ongoing listeria outbreak linked to other prepared foods that has resulted in multiple hospitalizations and deaths this year. The producer of the Hello Fresh meals, California-based FreshRealm, initiated the notification to the USDA after its own testing confirmed the presence of listeria in the spinach ingredient used in the meals. While no illnesses have been reported from these specific Hello Fresh products, the discovery has heightened concerns due to the pathogen’s potential for severe illness, especially among vulnerable populations.
Affected Meal Kit Details
The public health alert applies to two specific ready-to-eat meal kits offered by Hello Fresh. Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators for these products and verify establishment numbers and lot codes to determine if their meals are part of the alert. The establishment number is a crucial identifier printed within the USDA mark of inspection.
The first product is a 10.1-ounce container labeled “HELLO FRESH READY MADE MEALS CHEESY PULLED PORK PEPPER PASTA.” Consumers should look for items with either establishment number “Est. 47718” and lot code “49107” or establishment number “Est. 2937” and lot code “48840.”
The second product is a 10-ounce container of “HELLO FRESH READY MADE MEALS UNSTUFFED PEPPERS WITH GROUND TURKEY.” These packages are marked with establishment number “P-47718” and are associated with three different lot codes: “50069,” “50073,” or “50698.” FSIS has stated that more products could be added as the investigation continues, and the agency will update the public alert if new information becomes available.
Contamination Discovery and Producer
The potential contamination was brought to light by the meals’ producer, FreshRealm of San Clemente, California. The company notified the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service after it discovered that the spinach ingredient incorporated into the two ready-to-eat meals had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. This proactive testing and notification protocol is a standard industry practice designed to catch potential food safety issues before they lead to widespread illness.
In a statement provided to news outlets, Hello Fresh acknowledged the situation and confirmed its actions. “At HelloFresh, the safety of our customers and the quality of our meals is our highest priority,” the company stated. “Due to the potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes in spinach used by our third-party supplier of ready-to-eat meals, FreshRealm, a recall has been issued on two HelloFresh Ready-Made Meals.” The company further noted it had already reached out directly to all customers who may have received the affected products between September 6 and October 9, 2025, advising them to discard the meals.
Links to a Larger Listeria Outbreak
This health alert does not exist in isolation. FreshRealm has been previously linked to a broader listeria outbreak associated with heat-and-eat pasta meals sold at other major retailers. Last month, FreshRealm confirmed that pasta used in linguine dishes sold at Walmart stores tested positive for the same strain of listeria connected to an outbreak that began in June. That larger outbreak, initially tied to chicken fettuccine alfredo products, has been severe, causing at least 20 illnesses and four deaths across multiple states.
Genetic testing identified the outbreak strain in pasta samples manufactured and supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California. This discovery prompted several other large grocery chains, including Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Albertson’s, to recall their own pasta salads and other dishes made with ingredients from the same supplier due to the risk of listeria contamination. The latest illness connected to this widespread outbreak was reported on September 11, indicating the contaminated products may have had a long shelf life or were stored in consumers’ freezers, posing an ongoing risk.
The Dangers of Listeriosis
Symptoms and Progression
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that can be particularly dangerous for certain groups. For most healthy individuals, exposure to listeria may result in short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. However, the infection can become invasive and spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract, leading to life-threatening complications.
High-Risk Populations
The primary concern with any listeria contamination event involves its impact on vulnerable populations. Older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems—such as those undergoing cancer treatment, living with HIV/AIDS, or who have had an organ transplant—are significantly more susceptible to invasive listeriosis. In these individuals, the infection can lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or septicemia, a bloodstream infection. For pregnant women, a listeria infection can be especially devastating. Even if the mother experiences only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can pass to the fetus, potentially causing miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection in the newborn baby.
Official Guidance for Consumers
The USDA and Hello Fresh have issued clear instructions for customers who may have received the affected meals. The primary directive is not to consume the products. Consumers should check their meal kits against the product names, establishment numbers, and lot codes specified in the health alert. If any of these products are found, they should be thrown away immediately or returned to the place of purchase.
The FSIS emphasizes that there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these specific Hello Fresh meals to date. However, the agency advises anyone concerned about a potential illness to contact a healthcare provider for guidance. Listeriosis can have an incubation period of up to two months, so individuals in high-risk groups who believe they may have consumed a contaminated product should seek medical care if they develop flu-like symptoms and inform their doctor about the possible exposure.