Four individuals have died and 19 others have been hospitalized after consuming food linked to a deadly listeria outbreak, according to federal health officials. The contamination has been traced to specific ready-to-eat pasta products sold at major retailers, prompting widespread recalls.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the outbreak involves Albertsons Companies’ Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, as well as Trader Joe’s Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated a recall of prepared pasta meals on September 25 after identifying listeria monocytogenes contamination, which can cause severe illness and even death.
The outbreak has affected 15 states, with 20 confirmed infections as of September 30. Deaths were reported in Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah, including a pregnancy-associated case resulting in fetal loss. Infections have been documented in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Recalled products include Albertsons’ pasta salads with best-by dates from September 8 to 29, Trader Joe’s fettuccine alfredo with best-by dates ranging from September 20 to 27, and Walmart’s linguine meal with best-by dates through October 1. The CDC urged consumers to check product labels and discard any affected items immediately.
Further details on the recall and impacted locations are available through official channels.
