Kettle Cuisine Recalls Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit Over Possible Listeria Contamination

SAVAGE, Md. (August 12, 2026). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that Kettle Cuisine LLC is recalling Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Specifically, the recall affects 3,240 packs sold exclusively at select Walmart stores across 29 states. The company launched the recall after routine testing produced a presumptive positive result for Listeria monocytogenes.

Kettle Cuisine recall: quick summary

The affected 14 oz soup kits carry UPC 194346474004 and a use-by date of August 22, 2026.

Meanwhile, Kettle Cuisine distributed the product from June 30 through July 7, 2026. Notably, no confirmed illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall.

What happened?

According to the FDA, Kettle Cuisine initiated the recall after routine company testing produced a presumptive positive result for Listeria monocytogenes.

Specifically, the recall covers Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits packaged in wrapped 14 oz trays. Affected products carry UPC 194346474004 and a use-by date of August 22, 2026.

Additionally, the company distributed the soup from June 30 through July 7 exclusively to select Walmart stores across 29 states. Kettle Cuisine is now continuing its investigation in coordination with the FDA.

Meanwhile, consumers should not rely on the product’s “smell or appearance” to determine whether it is safe. The recall notice warns that Listeria monocytogenes can cause “serious and sometimes fatal infections” in vulnerable consumers.

Affected products

Product	Package size	UPC	Use by date	Affected areas
Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit	14 oz, 397 g	194346474004	August 22, 2026	AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV

What caused the issue?

According to the FDA notice, routine company testing detected a presumptive positive result for Listeria monocytogenes. Kettle Cuisine is continuing to investigate the potential contamination in coordination with regulators.

Importantly, Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, which poses greater risks to young children, older adults, pregnant people, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In more serious cases, people may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions.

Additionally, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. However, no confirmed illnesses associated with the recalled soup have been reported to date.

Food safety insight

“A presumptive pathogen result should be treated as an early warning that requires timely evaluation, even while additional investigation is still underway,” said Krizella Pascua, Food Safety Specialist at Source86.

“For refrigerated prepared foods, teams need to quickly assess the affected production window and determine whether product has already entered distribution. Taking action at that stage can reduce potential exposure while giving the investigation time to establish the full scope of the concern.”

Here’s what you should do

Consumers who purchased the Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit should:

• Check the package for UPC 194346474004.
• Look for the use-by date of August 22, 2026.
• Do not eat, serve, sell, or distribute the recalled soup.
• Dispose of the affected product or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling the recalled product.
• Clean and sanitize refrigerators, containers, utensils, countertops, and other surfaces that may have contacted the soup.
• Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms of listeriosis develop after consuming the affected product.

Consumer contact

• Phone: 617 409 1104
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time
• Refund: Consumers can return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a refund

Behind the brand

Kettle Cuisine began in 1986 by producing fresh soups for restaurants. Since then, the company has expanded its portfolio to include broths, sauces, sides, and other prepared foods.

Today, the company serves retail, restaurant, foodservice, and national brand customers. Additionally, Kettle Cuisine operates four production facilities across the United States.

Meanwhile, the company is investigating the Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit recall in coordination with the FDA. The recall notice does not specify how the potential contamination may have occurred.

Other relevant recalls

Other Source86 recall coverage shows how potential bacterial contamination can affect prepared foods, fresh ingredients, and products distributed through major retailers:

• City Foods Recalls Pastrami and Corned Beef Over Possible Listeria Contamination
• Whole Foods Market Recalls Salsas, Guacamole, and Prepared Foods Over Possible Salmonella Contamination
• Taylor Fresh Foods Recalls Jalapeño Products Over Possible Salmonella Contamination
• Lidl US Recalls Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix Over Possible Salmonella Contamination

Regulatory context

The Kettle Cuisine recall highlights how routine testing can identify potential microbial hazards before illnesses are reported.

More broadly, Listeria monocytogenes remains an important concern for prepared and refrigerated food manufacturers because it can cause serious infections in vulnerable consumers.

Therefore, strong food safety controls and accurate traceability can help companies identify affected products and distribution points. This visibility can support a faster and more targeted recall response.

Ensuring safe eats

Ultimately, this recall shows why manufacturers need effective controls to detect and address potential contamination before products reach more consumers.

For now, consumers should check Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits for UPC 194346474004 and the August 22, 2026 use-by date. Affected products should be discarded or returned for a refund.

Soup kits combine cooked components with ready-to-eat toppings, and Source86 evaluates Listeria controls for each component supplier rather than only the final assembler.

Building a meal kit or soup kit? Contact us about component supplier reviews.