Overview
- Health officials confirmed two additional deaths in Hawaii and Oregon, with the latest illness onset recorded on October 16.
- Investigators report 27 illnesses across 18 states, including 25 hospitalizations and one pregnancy-associated fetal loss.
- Precooked pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods was identified as the source, and about 245,000 pounds were recalled after matching the outbreak strain to FreshRealm-produced meals.
- Major retailers including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Albertsons, Sprouts, and Giant Eagle have pulled multiple deli salads and prepared pasta items, and consumers are urged to discard or return recalled products and clean refrigerators and surfaces.
- CDC, FDA, and USDA/FSIS continue to assess whether additional foods are implicated, warning that Listeria can grow in the refrigerator and that symptoms may appear up to 10 weeks after exposure, especially in high-risk groups.