Particle.news
Download on the App Store
5 ARTICLES
·
4h ago

Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ready-To-Eat Pasta Meals Leaves 4 Dead and 19 Hospitalized

Health officials warn that the bacterium’s persistence in cold, wet food plants makes it difficult to eliminate.

Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • The CDC reports 20 illnesses across 15 states as of Sept. 30, including four deaths in Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah and one pregnancy-associated fetal loss.
  • Recalls and health alerts cover ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger, plus Albertsons store-made deli pasta salads.
  • Specific items include Walmart Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara (best-by Sept. 22–Oct. 1), Trader Joe’s Cajun-Style Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (best-by Sept. 20, 24, 27), and various Albertsons pasta salads (best-by Sept. 8–29) across multiple states.
  • The CDC began investigating the outbreak in June, and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert for suspect pasta meals on Sept. 25.
  • Experts note Listeria can grow in refrigeration, form protective biofilms in processing equipment, and pose severe risks to pregnant people, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, with symptoms that can appear up to 10 weeks after exposure.