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FDA posts Marketside tomato bisque soup kit recall over potential Listeria contamination
A recalled Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Here is what shoppers and home cooks should check, discard and clean.
The FDA has posted a recall for one Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit because routine company testing produced a presumptive positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. The product was sold exclusively through select Walmart stores, and the agency says there are no confirmed illnesses associated with it at the time of the notice.
This is a consumer action alert, not a product-quality review. The recalled item is a refrigerated, ready-to-heat soup kit made by Kettle Cuisine LLC. Because the kit is ready to eat after heating and is stored cold, it belongs to the kind of food that should be handled carefully when a recall is announced. The CDC explains that Listeria can contaminate many foods and that infection is uncommon but can be serious.
Check the label before heating
The affected product is the Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit in a 14-ounce (397-gram) package. Consumers should compare the package with the identifiers published by the FDA:
- UPC: 194346474004
- Use-by date: 8/22/26
- Product: Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit
- Quantity recalled: 3,240 packs
The product was distributed through select Walmart stores in multiple states. The FDA notice contains the complete distribution information and product description. If you bought the kit in the relevant distribution area, check the physical package, receipt or purchase history rather than relying on memory. If the label matches, do not open it for a closer look or taste it to decide whether it is safe.
Do not try to rescue the soup by cooking it
The FDA's instruction is direct: consumers should not eat, serve, sell or distribute the recalled soup kit. Heating it does not change that advice. A microwave cycle may make a product hot, but it is not a substitute for following a recall notice, especially when the product has already been identified as potentially contaminated. Do not rely on smell, appearance or texture to judge safety; harmful contamination may not produce an obvious warning sign.
Place the unopened kit in a disposable bag and dispose of it, or return it to the store for a refund according to the retailer's instructions. Keep the package away from other food while you decide what to do. If the kit has leaked or touched other items in the refrigerator, treat those surfaces as potentially contaminated and clean them promptly.
Clean the refrigerator and kitchen surfaces
After handling the recalled package, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. The FDA also advises consumers to clean and sanitize refrigerators, freezers, containers, utensils, countertops and other surfaces that may have come into contact with the product. For a practical kitchen reset:
- Remove the recalled kit and any leaking packaging from the refrigerator.
- Wash hands before touching clean food, shelves or utensils.
- Clean visible spills with warm, soapy water.
- Apply a food-contact-safe sanitizer according to its label instructions.
- Wash reusable containers or utensils before using them again.
Keep raw foods, ready-to-eat foods and cleaning materials separate during the process. Do not place the recalled kit on a countertop next to bread, fruit or prepared food while you clean the refrigerator.
Who should take symptoms seriously?
Listeria infection can be particularly serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults aged 65 or older and people with weakened immune systems. The FDA lists possible symptoms including fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. More serious symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. Anyone who ate the recalled product and develops symptoms should contact a healthcare provider. Pregnant people should contact a healthcare provider promptly if they develop fever or other symptoms after possible exposure.
The safest response is simple: check the exact product identifiers, do not taste or reheat a matching package, dispose of or return it, and clean any surface it may have touched. This recall is a useful reminder that refrigerated convenience foods still need the same careful storage and recall awareness as any other ready-to-eat food.
