Listeria Outbreak Linked to Frozen Meals
A listeria outbreak tied to frozen meals sold at Walmart and Kroger has resulted in four deaths, prompting urgent warnings from health officials regarding similar products possibly containing the same bacteria.
So far, at least 20 individuals have fallen ill across 15 states, with nearly all requiring hospitalization. The latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the death toll linked to this contamination has increased.
Investigations are ongoing, and the outbreak is associated with a recall from June concerning ready-to-eat meals made by Fresh Realm.
Tests have shown that a specific pre-cooked pasta meal—chicken fettuccine alfredo—tested positive for listeria.
This product was distributed nationwide under the Market Side and Home Chef brands at Walmart and Kroger.
A Walmart spokesperson stated, “Health and safety are always our number one priority. We remove these products from affected stores and work with our suppliers to investigate.” Kroger has yet to respond to requests for comments.
On Thursday, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA released a public health warning for two more products.
Customers are advised to check for Trader Joe’s Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo or Market Side rangoon served with beef meatballs.
The FSIS expressed concern that some of these products might still be in consumer freezers or refrigerators and should either be thrown away or returned to the point of purchase.
Trader Joe’s alerted customers via its website to dispose of or return any affected chicken products.
Additionally, the warning included Market Side rangoon with beef meatballs produced by Fresh Realm and available at Walmart.
A spokesman for Trader Joe’s reassured, “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our customers and crew.”
According to FSIS, consuming contaminated food can lead to severe infections, especially among the elderly, the immunocompromised, pregnant women, and newborns.
Infection symptoms may include fever, muscle pain, headaches, stiff neck, cramps, and diarrhea. Listeriosis can be especially dangerous for those with weakened immune systems.
In pregnant women, it can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature deliveries, or severe infections in newborns.
During testing, Fresh Realm identified a listeria strain present in beef meatballs served with the pasta. The bacteria originated from pre-cooked pasta sourced from a third party.
Health officials are currently awaiting more data to determine if the listeria found in the pasta samples is related to the strain responsible for the illnesses.
