Listeria Food Recalls
What Is a Listeria Recall?
A Listeria recall occurs when a food product tests positive for Listeria monocytogenes — a dangerous bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious infection particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
Listeria is one of the most serious foodborne pathogens tracked by the FDA. Unlike most bacteria, Listeria can survive and grow at refrigerator temperatures, making it especially difficult to control in ready-to-eat foods.
Why Listeria Recalls Are Serious
The FDA classifies the vast majority of Listeria recalls as Class I — the highest severity level — meaning there is a reasonable probability that consuming the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
Listeriosis kills approximately 260 people in the United States each year according to the CDC. For pregnant women, Listeria infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns.
Foods Most Commonly Affected
- Ready-to-eat deli meats and hot dogs
- Soft cheeses and dairy products
- Smoked seafood
- Raw sprouts
- Bagged salads and leafy greens
- Refrigerated pâtés and meat spreads
- Ice cream and frozen dairy products
Common Causes of Listeria Recalls
- Environmental contamination — Listeria in drains, floors, or equipment in food processing facilities
- Cross-contamination — contact between ready-to-eat foods and contaminated surfaces
- Temperature abuse — improper refrigeration allowing Listeria to multiply
- Supplier contamination — contaminated raw ingredients entering the production line
- Routine FDA testing — positive environmental or product samples during FDA inspection
Listeria Recalls in Our Database
FoodRecallFinder.com tracks 341 brands where Listeria is the predominant contamination type in their FDA recall history. Listeria is the second most common contamination category in our database after undeclared allergens.
To view the full recall history for any brand including Listeria events use the search bar on our homepage or browse all brands A-Z.
What to Do If Your Product Is Recalled
- Stop using the product immediately — do not taste it to check if it seems safe
- Discard or return the product — Listeria cannot be detected by sight, smell, or taste
- Clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched the recalled product
- Watch for symptoms: fever, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea — seek medical attention if symptoms appear
- Report illness to the FDA at FDA.gov
Data Source
All recall data on FoodRecallFinder.com is sourced from the FDA Recall Enterprise System via the openFDA Food Enforcement API. Data is updated weekly. FoodRecallFinder.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For the complete list of Listeria recalls visit FDA.gov directly.