Salmonella outbreak tied to Metabolic Meals sickens 16 across 10 states, CDC urges consumers to check freezers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that an outbreak of salmonella has sickened 16 people across 10 states and has been associated with four different frozen home-delivery meals from wellness company Metabolic Meals. Seven people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.

Public health investigators tied illnesses to the following meal types: Four Cheese Tortellini with Pesto Sauce and Grilled Chicken; Low Carb Chicken Teriyaki and Vegetables; Black Garlic and Ranch Chicken Tenders with Roasted Vegetables; and Sliced Top Sirloin with Roasted Peanut Sauce and Summer Vegetables. The meals were delivered directly to consumers' homes during the week of July 28, 2025, and had expiration dates ranging from Aug. 5 to Aug. 8, 2025. Illness onset dates reported to investigators range from July 25 to Aug. 15.

State health departments reported cases in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. California and Missouri have the most cases, with three each, the CDC said. Investigators are still working to determine the specific source of the salmonella contamination.

The CDC advised customers who received the listed meal types to check their refrigerators and freezers and to discard the products or contact the company. The agency also recommended washing items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the meal ingredients to prevent cross-contamination.

Metabolic Meals, based in Missouri and described on its website as a provider of "macro-friendly" meals, told the CDC it is cooperating with the investigation and has contacted customers who purchased the affected meal types. The company has about 3,200 weekly subscribers across 48 states, according to its online information.

Salmonella is a group of bacteria commonly found in foods contaminated with animal feces and in raw or undercooked poultry, red meat, dairy products and eggs, as well as produce and seafood. Symptoms typically include diarrhea that can be bloody, fever and stomach cramps beginning six hours to six days after infection, the CDC said. Most healthy people recover without treatment, but young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems can develop severe bloodstream infections that require prompt medical care.

Public health data estimate that salmonella causes about 1.3 million infections in the United States each year, resulting in roughly 26,500 hospitalizations and about 400 deaths. Because many infections go unreported or undiagnosed, actual case numbers may be higher than those detected in outbreaks.

State and federal investigators continue laboratory testing and epidemiologic interviews to identify the contamination point and any additional affected products. Consumers with symptoms consistent with salmonella infection are advised to seek medical care and to inform clinicians about possible exposure to recalled or suspect food products.