Shoppers across Ireland are being urged to check their fridges after a major food recall was issued for Café Sol Pesto Pasta & Chicken, a popular ready-to-eat meal produced by Freshways. The recall, announced on September 25, 2025, comes after the dangerous bacteria Listeria monocytogenes was detected in a batch of the product, prompting swift action from both the manufacturer and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The affected product is the 224g pack size of Café Sol Pesto Pasta & Chicken, specifically those bearing a use-by date of September 25, 2025. This use-by date coincides with the day of the recall, making the alert particularly urgent for anyone who may have purchased the meal in recent days. According to the FSAI, a Category 1 "For Action" alert has been issued, which is the highest level of food safety warning, requiring immediate removal from sale and comprehensive communication to consumers.
Retailers throughout the country have been instructed to pull the implicated batch from their shelves without delay. Point-of-sale recall notices are now required to be displayed prominently, ensuring that anyone who might have purchased the meal is made aware of the potential risk. The FSAI, in its public notice, emphasized that consumers who have bought the product with the specified use-by date should not eat it under any circumstances. As the FSAI stated, "Consumers who purchased the product with the September 25, 2025 use-by date were advised not to eat it under any circumstances."
The recall is not limited to retail outlets. Wholesalers and distributors have been directed to contact all affected customers immediately, ensuring that the contaminated batch is removed from the entire supply chain. Caterers and food service providers are also being urged to check their inventories and dispose of any affected products. This all-hands-on-deck approach is designed to minimize the risk of the contaminated meal reaching vulnerable populations, for whom Listeria monocytogenes can be especially dangerous.
For those unfamiliar, Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause a potentially serious infection known as listeriosis. While some people may experience only mild flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, the infection can be far more severe for others. Pregnant women, babies, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at particular risk of developing complications. The FSAI highlighted, "Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications."
One particularly tricky aspect of listeria infection is its incubation period, which ranges from three days to as long as ten weeks after consumption, with an average onset around three weeks. This means that people who have recently eaten the recalled product may not experience symptoms immediately, making it all the more important for those who feel unwell to seek medical advice, especially if they fall into one of the higher-risk categories. The FSAI and health professionals are urging anyone who develops symptoms after consuming the affected meal to consult their doctor without delay.
This latest recall is part of a worrying trend in Ireland’s food sector. Earlier in 2025, the country experienced several listeria outbreaks linked to ready meals and fresh produce, including at least one fatal case. These incidents have put a spotlight on food safety standards, particularly in the burgeoning ready-to-eat sector, where convenience sometimes comes at a hidden cost. The FSAI maintains active surveillance of the food supply chain, and recalls such as this one are a stark reminder of the importance of such oversight.
Freshways, the manufacturer behind Café Sol, is no stranger to the Irish convenience food market. Their products are widely available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and catering outlets nationwide. The company has moved quickly to comply with the FSAI’s directives, working with retailers, wholesalers, and distributors to ensure the contaminated batch is removed from circulation. According to the public notice issued by the FSAI, “Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.”
Food safety experts say that while recalls are disruptive, they are an essential tool in protecting public health. The FSAI’s Category 1 alert is the highest level of warning, reserved for situations where there is a clear and present risk to consumers. Such alerts require not only the immediate removal of the product from sale but also robust public communication to ensure the message reaches as many people as possible. In this case, the urgency is heightened by the fact that the use-by date is today, meaning the product is likely to be in households and potentially consumed before the warning is widely disseminated.
Consumers are being reminded of the importance of checking use-by dates and batch codes whenever a food safety alert is issued. Even if a product looks and smells fine, it may still pose a risk if contaminated with bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes. The FSAI’s ongoing surveillance and rapid response protocols are designed to catch such issues before they result in widespread illness, but public cooperation is essential to ensure recalls are effective.
For those who may have already consumed the affected meal, the advice is clear: monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention if feeling unwell. The lengthy incubation period for listeria means that symptoms could appear weeks after consumption, making it all the more important to remain vigilant.
This incident also serves as a reminder to food businesses—whether retailers, wholesalers, or caterers—of their responsibility to uphold food safety standards. The FSAI’s swift action and clear communication demonstrate the seriousness with which such threats are treated in Ireland. As the recall notice made clear, “Caterers and food service providers were advised to check stock and dispose of any affected products.”
While the recall of Café Sol Pesto Pasta & Chicken is undoubtedly disruptive for Freshways and the wider food industry, it is a necessary step to protect public health. The hope is that, through rapid action and public awareness, any potential cases of listeria infection can be prevented or swiftly managed. For now, the message is simple: check your fridge, heed the recall notice, and when in doubt, err on the side of caution.
Food safety may not always make the headlines, but when it does, it’s a sobering reminder of the invisible risks that can lurk in even the most familiar meals. Ireland’s latest recall is a call to vigilance—for producers, retailers, and consumers alike.
