Your sandwich and pasta not safe? Listeria outbreak hits US which harms newborns and pregnant women: 10 points

As many as ten people have been hospitalised in US' California and Nevada following a listeria outbreak. This is linked to ready-to-eat food products, prompting an urgent recall by a California-based food producer, reports NBC News. More than 80 products are included in the recall, ranging from snack boxes to sandwiches and pastas.

Here are key things you need to know:

-A listeria outbreak has hit the United States and has been traced to fresh and ready foods in California. It has led to ten hospitalizations across California and Nevada.

-The recalled products have best-by dates between April 22 and May 19 and brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go and Fresh Take Crave Away, NBC reported.

-The recalled products were distributed throughout Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington at various locations including hospitals, hotels, corporate offices, convenience stores, airports and airlines, it stated.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk responds to Marco Rubio's India-Pakistan ceasefire post, gives 'one-word' reply

-“FDA and CDC began investigating this cluster in 2024, however, there was not enough evidence in the previous investigation to identify a source for the outbreak,” the FDA said. “The investigation was reopened in April 2025 after FDA investigators found listeria in environmental samples collected from Fresh & Ready Foods, LLC during a routine surveillance inspection.”

-“Fresh & Ready Foods has taken immediate corrective actions including removing equipment to address this issue to ensure ongoing food safety and compliance with FDA guidance,” the company said in a release. Of the 10 known illnesses, eight of the hospitalizations occurred in California and two in Nevada.

ALSO READ: Gold walls, opulent furnishings: All about $400m 'flying palace' from Qatar which Trump will use as Air Force One

-According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria are bacteria (germs) that can contaminate many foods. People who eat those foods can get infected with the bacteria. Listeria infection is rare, but serious.

-Listeria bacteria can cause an infection called listeriosis. Signs and symptoms of listeriosis depend on the person infected, and the body part affected. Listeria are most likely to harm pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, CDC says.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk sued: Did SpaceX fire an employee over frequent bathroom usage due to Crohn's disease?

-Symptoms of listeriosis, or a listeria infection, typically begin within two weeks of eating contaminated food, but can start anywhere from the day of consumption to 10 weeks later, the FDA said.

-Retailers and consumers who purchased or received the recalled products are advised by the FDA to clean and sanitize any areas they may have touched, as listeria can spread easily to other foods and surfaces.

-The FDA has advised people to contact a health care professional if symptoms begin, such as fever, nausea, muscle aches, vomiting or diarrhea.