Markets 
Soup’s off.
A popular soup sold at Walmart stores is being recalled amid fears of Listeria contamination.
According to a Food and Drug Administration announcement, Kettle Cuisine LLC of Savage, MD is voluntarily recalling more than 3,000 Marketside 14oz Tomato Bisque Soup Kits.
The affected products, which are packaged in a wrapped tray, have the UPC 194346474004 and an expiration date of August 22, 2026.
The soup kits were distributed from June 30 through July 7 to select Walmart stores across 29 states.
Per the FDA announcement, Kettle Cuisine launched the recall after routine product testing revealed a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes.
The impacted products were distributed to Walmart stores in the following states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
Consumers are cautioned not to eat, serve, sell, or distribute the affected soup and are advised to dispose of the product or return it to Walmart for a refund.
To date, Kettle Cuisine has received no confirmed reports of illnesses associated with this product.
The announcement underscored that customers should not rely on the smell or appearance of the product to determine whether it is safe to consume.
Those who handle the recalled soup should thoroughly wash their hands and clean and sanitize any surfaces it may have come into contact with, including refrigerators, freezers, containers, utensils, and countertops.
Listeriosis is a disease caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria bacteria, which can spread through a wide range of foods, including deli meats, cheese, and raw fruits and vegetables.
It typically causes mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, diarrhea or vomiting. However, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, young children and adults over 65 face a higher risk of severe, potentially life-threatening complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Symptoms of listeriosis can appear anywhere from a few days to two weeks after eating contaminated food.
In invasive cases — when Listeria spreads beyond the digestive system — patients may experience more severe symptoms, including confusion, loss of balance, stiff neck and even seizures.
Pregnant women typically experience only mild illness such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches. However, the infection can be passed onto the fetus, increasing the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature delivery.
Mild intestinal cases often resolve on their own within a few days with rest and fluids. But severe or invasive infections — especially in higher-risk patients — are typically treated with antibiotics.
Complications of listeriosis can include inflammation of the heart, brain, bones and abdominal organs, as well as pneumonia, sepsis, urinary tract infections and septicemia, when bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.
If you’re born with listeriosis or if you get an infection that spreads to your brain or causes sepsis, you could have long-lasting health conditions. These include developmental delays, blindness, organ damage, and paralysis.
About 1 in 6 people with invasive listeriosis die from the infection, according to the CDC.
If symptoms develop, the FDA is urging consumers to contact a healthcare provider.
Consumers with questions can contact the Kettle Cuisine hotline at 617-409-1104.
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