Food Safety Alert: Ready made meals containing spinach recalled due to Listeria concerns

Certain Hello Fresh ready made meals are involved in a national recall. There is concern the spinach used in these products is potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products were distributed to consumers nationwide and may have been sold in Mesa County. To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection to these products.

Description of recalled products

• 10.1-oz. containers of “HELLO FRESH READY MADE MEALS CHEESY PULLED PORK PEPPER PASTA” with establishment number “Est. 47718” and lot code 49107 or establishment number “Est. 2937” and lot code 48840. 
• 10-oz. containers of “HELLO FRESH READY MADE MEALS UNSTUFFED PEPPERS WITH GROUND TURKEY” with establishment number “P-47718” and lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698.
• Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website for more information about the products.            

What consumers should do

• Consumers should check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled products and throw them out or return them to the store for a refund.
• Contact a doctor if you have concerns after eating the recalled products.
• Consumers with questions may contact FreshRealm’s customer service hotline at 1-888-244-1562 or email customerservice@freshrealm.com.

Listeria description and treatment

• Eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis. This can cause a serious infection in young children, older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.
• Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
• In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. 
• Serious and sometimes fatal infections are possible in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. 
• Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care.

MCPH role in food recalls

There are systems in place to make sure the food people buy and eat is safe. When Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) has been made aware of a product being recalled that could have been distributed in Mesa County, MCPH shares the information so it reaches as many community members as possible.