Key points
CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria infections. Certain chicken fettuccine alfredo meals made by FreshRealm sold in grocery stores are a source of illness in this outbreak. Do not eat recalled chicken fettuccine alfredo meals.
June 18, 2025
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that chicken fettuccine alfredo meals produced by FreshRealm are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are making people sick. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are linked to the outbreak.
Epidemiologic Data
As of June 18, 2025, a total of, 17 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 13 states. Sick people's samples were collected on dates ranging from August 1, 2024, to May 27, 2025. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 24, 2024, to May 10, 2025. Of 17 people with information available, 16 have been hospitalized and 3 deaths have been reported from Illinois, Michigan, and Texas. One pregnancy associated illness resulted in a fetal loss.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the month before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Demographics
Information
Age
(n=17)
Range from 4 to 92 years
Median age of 79
Sex
(n=17)
71% female
29% male
Race
(n=17)
76% White
18% African American/Black
6% Asian
Ethnicity
(n=17)
94% non-Hispanic
6% Hispanic
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the month before they got sick. Of the 11 people interviewed, 7 reported eating precooked meals, and 4 (57%) specifically reported eating chicken fettuccine alfredo. Ill people purchased the products from the refrigerated section at Walmart and Kroger. Public health investigators continue to gather information on what ill people ate before getting sick to determine whether additional products are linked to the outbreak.
Laboratory and Traceback Data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
USDA FSIS used purchase records to trace chicken fettuccine alfredo products purchased by 2 ill people back to FreshRealm. An additional 2 people described chicken fettuccine alfredo products they purchased and FSIS follow-up at the retail stores identified FreshRealm chicken fettuccine alfredo products matching their descriptions.
On March 19, 2025, FSIS identified the outbreak strain in a routine sample of FreshRealm chicken fettuccine alfredo. This lot was not distributed into the food supply. FDA and FSIS collected samples from FreshRealm and the suppliers of some of the individual ingredients used to produce the chicken fettuccine alfredo but have not identified the outbreak strain. However, CDC continues to see ill people reporting this specific food and is concerned that contamination is still occurring.
Public Health Actions
On June 17, 2025, FreshRealm recalled chicken fettuccine alfredo meals. Do not eat recalled chicken fettucine alfredo meals made by FreshRealm and sold in the refrigerated section at Walmart and Kroger grocery stores.