Deadly listeria outbreak sparks nationwide recall
Pre-cooked pasta foods numbering thousands have been recalled in connection with a deadly listeria outbreak, which has already claimed four lives. Several large grocery store chains, including Kroger, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s, have been affected by the outbreak and left consumers across the country concerned.
The affected products were manufactured by Nate’s Fine Foods, under an October 9 notice issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products later found their way into ready-to-eat foods that are distributed by companies such as FreshRealm, which have been found positive for the outbreak strain of listeria monocytogenes.
Nate’s Fine Foods initially provided a voluntary recall of 245,000 pounds of pasta on September 25 for potential contamination. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at the time reported the products were sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s, among others.
Products and locations affected
The recalled products were shipped to California, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Some of the most affected products are:
- Cooked Linguine Pasta – 972 cases (29,160 lbs)
- MAP Cooked Fettuccine Pasta – 1,357 cases (40,710 lbs)
- Cooked Farfalle Pasta – 1,442 cases (34,068 lbs)
- Cooked Penne Pasta – 1,337 cases (32,088 lbs)
- Taylor Farms Cooked Rotini, Farfalle, and Trotolle MAP – 1,490 combined cases (34,068 lbs)
These items contained multiple lot codes and use-by dates in August 2025 to September 2026. Consumers are requested to check both packaging and lot codes before consumption.
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Retail-level recalls
Manufacturers are not the only ones recalling products. Grocery stores pulled certain products off the shelves to prevent more illness. Some of the recalled retail items include:
- Sprouts Farmers Market – Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad (use-by 10/10/25 to 10/29/25)
- Giant Eagle – Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad (use by 9/30/25 to 10/7/25)
- Kroger – Deli Bowtie and Penne Pasta Salads (on sale Aug. 29–Oct. 2)
- Scott & Jon’s – Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls (use by 3/12/27 to 3/21/27)
- Trader Joe’s – Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (use by 9/20/25–10/10/25)
- Albertsons – Store-made deli pasta salads (sell-thru Sept. 8–Oct. 4)
- Marketside Walmart – Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce and Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine
- Home Chef – Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (best by June 19 or sooner)
- These products are instructed to be discarded immediately or returned to the store for a refund.
Health risks and outbreak details
Listeria may cause severe illness among pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. During this outbreak, 20 cases were reported in 15 states with four fatalities, some hospitalisations, and at least one foetal loss.
Symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, muscle aching, nausea, and diarrhoea. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, as the infection can also lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.
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Ongoing investigation
The FDA, USDA, and FreshRealm continue investigating the outbreak and seeking other products that are tainted. Health authorities warn that the recalls can be widened pending new developments.
Through October 12, Nate’s Fine Foods had not returned calls for comment to media outlets. Meanwhile, stores are already pulling products off the shelves and alerting customers through in-store signs and online bulletins.
Consumer action steps
Inspect the food items in your pantry and refrigerator listed above in the recall list.
Do not consume any spoilt pasta or ready-to-eat foods.
Return or dispose of the products at once.
Consult your physician if fever, nausea, and other flu-like signs occur, especially if you are pregnant or immunocompromised.
This recall serves as a reminder to always check food labels and stay up-to-date on FDA announcements — especially on ready-to-eat foods and pre-cooked food.
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