There have been an increasing number of these companies that market these 'chef' prepared, home delivered meals. This outbreak should raise questions as to the safety of this food and the operations that prepare it. Unlike a restaurant or store that you can actually see or inspections that you can obtain, people do not have much information on these operations.
Looking at the website, I was not able to determine where the food is actually made. Was it made in some shotgun shack? Who is inspecting these operations? Perhaps some municipality where the inspectors are unaware of issues of RTE home delivered meals? Home delivered often skate the boundary between local and Federal inspection.
It is important to point out that home-delivered meals, especially RTE refrigerated meals, have some risks that need to be controlled. First is proper preparation where cooking and cooling steps must be adequately addressed. But then there is the delivery component, where safeguards must be in place to prevent temperature abuse during transport.
There is little information outside of the website to make valid decisions. Slick websites with appealing food are not sufficient and can be misleading. I was able to find a physical location for the facility in St. Louis MO. It is a USDA inspected facility.
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/homedeliverymeals-09-25/index.html
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Home Delivery Meals
Investigation status: Open
Recall issued: No
CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to certain home delivery meals made by Metabolic Meals. Do not eat affected Metabolic Meals products while the investigation is ongoing. Check your refrigerator and freezer for these products and throw them away or contact the company.
Affected food - Metabolic Meals home delivery service products:
Select meals delivered during the week of July 28, 2025
Four Cheese Tortellini with Pesto Sauce and Grilled Chicken
Lot Code: 25199
Best By: 08/07/2025
Low Carb Chicken Teriyaki and Vegetables
Lot Code: 25202
Best By: 08/05/2025
Black Garlic & Ranch Chicken Tenders with Roasted Vegetables
Lot Code: 25205
Best By: 08/08/2025
Sliced Top Sirloin with Roasted Peanut Sauce and Summer Vegetables
Lot Code: 25203
Best By: 08/06/2025
Additional meal lot codes include: 25199, 25202, 25203, 25204, 25205
Sick people in this outbreak reported eating ready-to-eat, home delivery meals made by Metabolic Meals. Investigators are working to determine a specific source of contamination.
Metabolic Meals is collaborating with investigators and has reached out to customers directly who purchased the meal types listed above to inform them of the outbreak.
Latest update
September 5, 2025
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections.
Epidemiologic data show that certain home delivery menu items made by Metabolic Meals may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis and may be making people sick.
Epidemiologic data
As of September 5, 2025, 16 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 10 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from July 24, 2025 to August 15, 2025. Of the 15 people with information available, 7 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
The table below has information about sick people in this outbreak ("n" is the number of people with information available for each demographic).
Demographics
Information
Age (n=16) Range from 0 to 96 years Median age of 56
Sex (n=16) 56% female 44% male
Race (n=13) 100% White 0% African American/Black 0% Native American or Alaska Native
0% Asian 0% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0% reported more than one race
Ethnicity (n=14) 93% non-Hispanic 7% Hispanic
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 12 people interviewed, 10 (83%) reported eating a Metabolic Meals prepared menu item. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from eating certain Metabolic Meals prepared menu items.
Laboratory data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS).
WGS showed that bacteria from sick people's samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
Based on WGS analysis, bacteria from 16 people's samples had predicted resistance to nalidixic acid and nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin (NSC). Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed, some illnesses in this outbreak may not be treatable with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice. More information is available at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) site.
Public health actions
Do not eat affected Metabolic Meals products. If you have any of these meals in your home, throw them out or contact the company.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-certain-metabolic-meals-home-delivery-foods-reported-in-ongoing-salmonella-outbreak-investigation.html
Certain Metabolic Meals home delivery foods reported in ongoing Salmonella outbreak investigation
A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections has been posted at https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/homedeliverymeals-09-25/index.html.
Key Points:
Sixteen people in ten states have gotten sick from the same strain of Salmonella. Seven people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
Metabolic Meals home delivery service removed several meals delivered during the week of July 28, 2025. Please see CDC's food safety alert for more information.
Sick people in this outbreak reported eating ready-to-eat, home delivery meals made by Metabolic Meals.
Investigators are working to determine a specific source of contamination.
Metabolic Meals is collaborating with investigators and has reached out directly to customers who purchased affected meals to inform them of the outbreak.
From Metabolic Meals Webiste
About
Top Chef Talent = The Most Delicious Way to Eat Healthy
15 years ago we dreamed of creating a company that would attract top culinary talent for a special purpose: an unbreakable dedication to helping people eat well. A tireless passion for utilizing the highest quality ingredients, recipe development and weekly menu variety sets Metabolic Meals apart from other delivery options.
The shared vision that the food we eat daily can help us become the best version of ourselves resonates strongly throughout these four walls.
Quality ingredients above all else. Better tasting. Better for you.
We work closely with farmers, artisans and land-owners who are committed to Regenerative Agriculture. This allows nature to patiently optimize the nutritional density of everything it touches while building a thriving ecosystem for future generations. You’ll taste our quality difference in every bite.
FAQ
Top Chef Talent = The Most Delicious Way to Eat Healthy
15 years ago we dreamed of creating a company that would attract top culinary talent for a special purpose: an unbreakable dedication to helping people eat well. A tireless passion for utilizing the highest quality ingredients, recipe development and weekly menu variety sets Metabolic Meals apart from other delivery options.
The shared vision that the food we eat daily can help us become the best version of ourselves resonates strongly throughout these four walls.
Quality ingredients above all else. Better tasting. Better for you.
We work closely with farmers, artisans and land-owners who are committed to Regenerative Agriculture. This allows nature to patiently optimize the nutritional density of everything it touches while building a thriving ecosystem for future generations. You’ll taste our quality difference in every bite.
FAQ
Is there any cooking involved?
No cooking required - simply reheat and enjoy! Your entrees arrive fresh and ready to eat with heating instructions, nutritional information, and a full ingredient list.
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