Ready-to-eat meals sold at Kroger and Walmart recalled after three deaths from listeria
FreshRealm's chicken fettuccine alfredo products are being recalled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said they may be 'adulterated' with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes.
The outbreak resulted in three deaths, as well as one fetal loss, and injured 17 people across 13 states, officials said Tuesday.
The ready-made meals were shipped to Walmart and Kroger locations nationwide from FreshRealm establishments in San Clemente, California, Montezuma, Georgia, and Indianapolis, Indiana, according to the authorities.
The recall notice states: 'Out of an abundance of caution, the company is voluntarily recalling all products produced prior to June 17, 2025, that are available in commerce under the following brand names.'
The products impacted include:
32.8-oz. tray packages containing 'MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese' with best-by date 06/27/25 or prior.
12.3 oz. tray packages containing 'MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese' with best-by date 06/26/25 or prior.
12.5 oz. tray packages containing 'HOME CHEF Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and Parmesan cheese' with best-by date 06/19/25 or prior.
The impacted products bear the USDA mark of inspection on the product label as well as establishment numbers 'EST. P-50784,' 'EST.p-47770,' or 'EST.P-47718' printed on the packaging.
The exact source of the contamination has not yet been identified, health officials said.
Shoppers who have purchased the recalled products should throw them out or return them.
Health officials warn that eating food contaminated with Lm can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and newborns.
'[Health officials are] sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettuccine alfredo may be the source of this strain of Lm,' the FSIS said in the recall alert.
The investigation into the contamination is ongoing.
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'Whether it's adding chia seeds to everything, sneaking veggies into your meals, or finding new ways to love whole grains, fibermaxxing might just be the trend we didn't know we needed,' Manaker said — especially as rates of colon cancer, to which low fiber intake has been linked, she added, have been rising among people ages 20 to 54. Gastroenterologist Dr. Kyle Staller agreed, adding that adequate fiber intake has 'been a recommendation that has not changed for years.' 'Despite lots of science that comes and goes and trends that come and go, fiber is an oldie but goodie,' said Staller, director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. But like anything else — and especially TikTok trends — fibermaxxing can definitely have drawbacks if you make substantial changes too quickly, Staller said. There are two types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble, experts said. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and absorbs it to form a gel-like substance, and is more associated with some of the digestive benefits of fiber, experts said. Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, doesn't dissolve in water and helps people have more frequent and heavier bowel movements. 'A balance of both is key for overall health,' Manaker said. 'If you get too much of one type and not enough of the other, you might experience digestive issues like bloating or constipation.' Most fibrous foods contain both types. Foods richer in soluble fiber include apples, bananas, citrus fruits, barley, carrots, oats, beans and psyllium, which derives from the husks of seeds of the Plantago ovata plant, according to the Mayo Clinic. Those with mostly insoluble fiber include vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower and potatoes; whole-wheat flour or wheat bran; nuts; and beans. Many TikTok videos on fibermaxxing feature meals made from a variety of these foods, such as colorful salads mixing different leafy greens and vegetables. Versions of TikTok user impamibaby's breakfast are common among fibermaxxers, and they're rich in insoluble fiber. Within those two types of fiber, there are other forms and characteristics of fiber also critical for gut health, Staller said. The viscosity of the fiber, for one, affects how well it flows through your digestive tract, while fiber fermentability influences how much your gut microbiome can actually ferment the fiber into helpful compounds to use as an energy source, he said. 'Then finally, how is the fiber packaged?' Staller added. Foods that are more processed, cut up, raw or cooked — all those forms have different effects on your digestive health, even if the foods contain the same type of fiber. However, you don't need to worry about doggedly tracking all these things in your efforts to increase your fiber intake. Eating a variety of whole or minimally processed foods will give you enough of what you need, Staller said. The link between higher fiber intake and decreased rates of colon and rectal cancers may be explained by a couple of factors, according to Jennifer House, a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of First Step Nutrition in Alberta. When fiber increases stool bulk, it decreases the amount of time waste is in contact with the intestinal tract. 'Also, our gut bacteria ferments fiber, and it creates something called short-chain fatty acids,' such as butyrate, she added, which can nourish critical cells in the colon and inhibit cancer cells and inflammation. Recent research also suggests people with colon cancer may have greater odds of surviving if they increase their fiber consumption, Staller said. Fiber can also reduce your risk of other chronic illnesses and health conditions, experts said — including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and premature death. And by improving your digestion, you're also reducing your risk of constipation-induced issues such as hemorrhoids and pelvic floor problems. Part of why fiber can help prevent or manage those conditions is because it aids in blood sugar regulation by slowing digestion — to a healthy degree — and the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, reducing blood sugar spikes after meals, Manaker said. Fiber helps maintain a healthy weight, which is possible due to that blood sugar regulation and to fiber keeping you fuller longer, likely reducing overall calorie intake, Manaker added. Some TikTokers claim fibermaxxing can also help 'detoxify' your gut. Some of the experts don't love that word, given all the pseudoscience it's associated with in diet culture. But since fiber helps you poop, it 'literally does help remove toxins from your body,' House said. Additionally, some fibrous foods, such as leafy vegetables and nuts, support liver health, which plays an important role in detoxification, Manaker said. Experts are also increasingly learning more about the connections between our gut health and mental health, House said — finding that diets high or low in fiber-rich foods do affect your mood. If you want to start fibermaxxing, first know that 'going from zero to 60 when you don't consume any fiber at all is probably not going to go well,' Staller said. That's because when fiber pulls water into the digestive tract, the tract expands, causing discomfort and bloating in people who aren't accustomed to a normal fiber intake. Start low and slow by maybe adding some berries to your usual cereal breakfast or swapping one of your meals for one higher in fiber, House suggested. See how you feel after doing that for a week or two before you increase your intake. Some types of fiber don't work for everyone, Staller said, so listen to your body and adjust accordingly. Working with a dietitian, if possible, is best when navigating significant dietary changes. Fiber supplements — particularly those solely or predominantly made of psyllium husk — can be helpful if you have problems eating enough fiber or medical problems that need to be addressed more aggressively, such as high cholesterol, sources said. But they shouldn't replace fibrous foods as you'd be missing out on all the nutrients, minerals and vitamins they have to offer. There are several ways you can start incorporating more fiber into meals you already eat, such as swapping white rice, bread or pasta for whole-grain versions, Manaker said. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans site has a list of hundreds of commonly available foods and how much fiber they contain per standard serving size. Be sure to drink plenty of water, too — if fiber doesn't have any water to bring with it into your digestive tract, that can cause more bloating, gas and constipation due to dry stools, sources said. Sign up for CNN's Eat, But Better: Mediterranean Style. Our eight-part guide shows you a delicious expert-backed eating lifestyle that will boost your health for life.
