Spinach in Meal Kits May Be Risky

A recent alert from health officials warns that some Hello Fresh meal kits might contain spinach tainted with listeria. The affected meals were produced by FreshRealm, a company already linked to a previous listeria outbreak from pasta meals.

Affected Meals and Codes

The meals in question are:

• Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta
• Est. 47718 with lot code 49107
• Est. 2937 with lot code 48840
• Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey
• Est. P-47718 with lot codes 50069, 50073, or 50698

These meals were sent directly to customers, so check your kits carefully.

Source of Contamination

The issue was discovered when FreshRealm notified the USDA that the spinach in these meals tested positive for listeria. The spinach was supplied by Sno Pac Foods through Del Mar Foods. The detected strain is not linked to any known outbreak, and no illnesses have been reported yet.

Previous Outbreaks and Risks

This is not the first time FreshRealm has faced listeria issues. Last month, they identified the same strain in pasta sold at Walmart, leading to at least four deaths and 20 illnesses.

Listeria is particularly dangerous for:

• Older adults
• Pregnant women
• Individuals with weakened immune systems

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Severe issues like confusion and convulsions

Annually, about 1,600 people fall ill from listeria, with around 260 deaths.

Preventive Measures

Health officials are working to enhance safety protocols to prevent such outbreaks. Stay informed and check for recalls or alerts related to the food you consume.