Key Takeaways
- Listeria outbreak linked to frozen pasta has killed 6 people across 18 states
- 27 people hospitalized, including one miscarriage case
- Products sold at Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Kroger, Sprouts Farmers Market
- Supplier Nate’s Fine Foods recalls products despite negative facility tests
A deadly listeria outbreak spanning 18 states has been traced to frozen pasta meals sold at major grocery chains including Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Sprouts. The outbreak has resulted in six fatalities and hospitalized 27 people, with one pregnant woman suffering a miscarriage after infection.
Outbreak Details and Impact
Federal health officials confirmed the listeria outbreak began in June and has affected multiple states. According to the CDC’s most recent update in late October, the majority of the 27 sickened individuals required hospitalization.
The investigation identified the source as recalled frozen meals containing pasta supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods Inc., a Northern California company based in Roseville.
Recalled Products and Stores
The contaminated pasta meals were distributed nationwide through major grocery retailers. Affected stores include Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Kroger, and Sprouts Farmers Market.
Specific recalled products include:
- Marketside Linguine With Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce (Walmart)
- Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo
- Sprouts Farmers Market smoked mozzarella pasta salad
- Scott & Jon’s shrimp scampi with linguini bowl
Supplier Response and Testing
Nate’s Fine Foods expanded its recall list in both September and October, stating the action was taken out of “abundance of caution.” The company emphasized that FDA testing at its facility returned negative results for the specific outbreak strain.
“To date, no government agency has found any evidence of the specific Listeria monocytogenes strain identified in the outbreak in its thorough testing at Nate’s Fine Foods’ facility or in products under its jurisdiction,” the company stated.
The outbreak prompted FreshRealm Inc. to recall chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals after their pasta samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes in September. The FDA confirmed Nate’s Fine Foods as the pasta supplier for these products.
