Listeria outbreak tied to prepared pasta dishes kills 6 : NPR

A deadly listeria outbreak linked to prepared pasta sold at grocery chains across the country is getting worse, federal health officials say.

As of late October, the outbreak had killed six people and sickened 27, with all but two hospitalized. as per last week's update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of the victims was a pregnant mother, which resulted in the loss of the fetus.

Cases have been reported in 18 states: California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

“Since the last CDC case count update on September 25, 2025, there have been a total of 7 new illnesses reported from 3 states, as well as 2 additional deaths,” the release said. This was reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)..

This list has grown in recent months. The outbreak began in June when concerns about listeria led to the recall of several brands of ready-to-eat chicken. fettuccine alfredo dishesproduced by FreshRealm Inc. and is sold under the Home Chef brand at Kroger and the Marketside brand at Walmart.

In response, FreshRealm began testing some samples of its pasta, and in mid-September they tested positive for listeria. Further genetic testing confirmed it was the same strain of listeria that was found in FreshRealm's previously recalled Chicken Alfredo dinner, the FDA said at the time.

The discovery led to the recall of two more products with specific expiration dates in late September and early October: Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs and Marinara Sauce, sold at Walmart, and Trader Joe's Cajun Style Chicken Breast Fettuccine with Black Chicken Alfredo.

They shared a pasta supplier, Nate's Fine Foods. According to the website, the company supplies semi-finished pasta and cereals to wholesale catering establishments and the restaurant business.

In late September, Nate's further expanded its recall to include other batches of prepared pasta, “including fettuccine, linguine and farfalle (bow tie), after a sample of linguine pasta collected and tested by FreshRealm tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.” FDA stated.

Early October I saw the reviews More ready-to-eat, heat-and-eat pasta salads and noodle dishes sold at Trader Joe's, Albertsons, Kroger, Walmart, Giant Eagle and Sprouts stores nationwide.

At the end September statementNate's said it was recalling the products out of an “abundance of precaution” and apologized for the concern it has caused.

“Our top priority is to ensure the safety of the people who use our products, and we will continue to take all necessary steps until this matter is resolved,” the company said, adding that it is working closely with the CDC, FDA and state health officials to identify the source.

FDA says he is working with Nate's to determine if additional reviews are needed. Health officials say customers who purchase these meals should throw them away and clean refrigerators, containers and any surfaces that may have come into contact with the food.

For now, products that were recalled between June and October are more likely to be in consumers' refrigerators and freezers than on store shelves. Most of them had an expiration date before October 10th.

recalled product Scott & Jon's Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls has the longest shelf life. These meals, which have been distributed to wholesale distributors and operators across the country, have an expiration date of March 2027. A company spokesperson told NPR that retailers have removed the product from their shelves.

What you need to know and do about listeria

Listeria infection, or listeriosis, most often affects pregnant women and newborns, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems.

Pregnant women may experience only mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches, but they should be aware that listeria can cause miscarriage, premature birth or life-threatening infection in the newborn.

Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, gastrointestinal problems, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance. They usually begin within two weeks of eating contaminated food, but can start as early as that day or up to 10 weeks later, according to the CDC.

Confirming the extent of the outbreak may be difficult because some people recover from the infection without medical care. For those who do need medical attention, it usually takes three to four weeks to determine whether their illness is part of an outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC says it had interviewed 13 people who had gotten sick as of late September. Seven of them reported eating processed foods before the onset of illness, and four specifically mentioned eating chicken fettuccine Alfredo.

The CDC and FDA say consumers should contact their doctor to report any symptoms of listeriosis and get medical help. They can also report any adverse health effects. to the FDA online.

There have been several listeria outbreaks in the United States in the past year.

A 2024 outbreak linked to deli meats resulted in 10 deaths and dozens more hospitalized across the country. A USDA report released in January blamed:inadequate sanitation practices” at the closed Boar's Head facility in Virginia and is listed a few steps this will be required to better protect the population from listeria.

Almost two million in February bakery — including some donuts sold at Dunkin' — have been recalled due to concerns about listeria. In the same month frozen cocktails sold to nursing homes and long-term care facilities were recalled due to a listeria outbreak that began in 2018. FDA says The outbreak sickened 42 people and killed 14 — in 21 states — before authorities declared it over in May.