The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a public health alert for certain HelloFresh subscription meals that may be contaminated with listeria.
Why it matters: Listeria infections can be severe, particularly for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. The USDA warns that more products may be added to the recall list as the investigation continues.
The details:
- The affected meals were produced by FreshRealm, a company based in San Clemente, California, and shipped directly to HelloFresh customers nationwide between Sept. 6 and Oct. 9, 2025.
- The recalled products include 10.1-ounce containers of Ready Made Meals Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta and 10-ounce containers of Ready Made Meals Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey.
- The potential contamination was discovered after the quick-frozen spinach used in these meals tested positive for listeria.
- No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are advised to avoid these products out of an abundance of caution.
Earlier incidents have highlighted the risks associated with listeria contamination. Last month, FreshRealm confirmed that pasta used in linguine dishes sold at Walmart contained the same strain of listeria linked to a previous outbreak involving chicken fettuccine Alfredo, resulting in four deaths and 20 illnesses.
What they’re saying:
- “We have directly contacted customers who may have received these meals and advised them to immediately discard any affected product,” Hello Fresh said. “We take this matter very seriously. Customers with any questions or concerns are encouraged to contact our Customer Care Team.”
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,600 people in the U.S. contract listeria infections annually, with around 260 fatalities.
What to do: Consumers should not eat the impacted meals and should discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Wash and sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products.
What’s next: Federal health officials announced in December that they were revamping protocols to prevent listeria infections in response to recent high-profile outbreaks. The FSIS expects more products to be added to the recall list as its investigation continues.
