Four individuals have died, and 19 others are hospitalized due to a Listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat pasta meals sold in grocery stores across the country, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As of September 30, there were 20 reported cases of listeria poisoning across 15 states. The outbreak is tied to pre-packaged pasta meals available at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Albertsons.
The CDC revealed the outbreak in June and has been investigating illness reports since then. On September 25, the Food Safety Inspection Service issued a public health warning regarding these potentially contaminated pasta meals.
Where did people get sick?
Deaths have been reported in Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah, some of which involved pregnancy-related complications resulting in fetal loss.
Confirmed infections from the outbreak span a variety of states, including California (2 cases), Florida (1 case), Illinois (1 case), Indiana (1 case), Louisiana (2 cases), and others. However, the numbers may not capture all occurrences, according to the CDC.
Which products are affected?
Albertsons: Ready-to-eat pasta salads were sold at Albertsons and affiliated stores, with best buy dates from September 8-29 across several states including California and Texas.
The full list of recalled products and additional information can be found online.
Trader Joe’s: Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettucine alfredo, with best buy dates on September 20, 24, and 27, was sold in states like California and Utah.
Details about this recall are also available online.
Walmart: Marketside Ringuine featuring beef meatballs and marinara sauce was available at Walmart nationwide, with best buy dates from September 22 to October 1.
More information regarding this recall can be found online.
Kroger and Walmart: Marketside grilled chicken alfredo and home chef heat and meal chicken fettucine alfredo are also included in the recall.
Details can be located online.
What is Listeria Infection?
Listeria infections arise when the bacteria contaminate food. As outlined by the CDC, symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Other gastrointestinal issues
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or severe infections in newborns
- Death
Individuals most vulnerable to severe illness or death from these infections include pregnant women, those over 65, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
