Ready-to-Eat Pasta Meals Linked to Multistate Listeria Outbreak

Federal health authorities have issued warnings regarding specific ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at major retailers, including Walmart and Trader Joe's, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has identified the following products:

• Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce: Sold at Walmart in 12-ounce clear plastic trays with "best if used by" dates ranging from September 22 to October 1, 2025. These packages bear establishment numbers "EST. 50784" or "EST. 47718" inside the USDA inspection mark.

• Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo: Available in 16-ounce trays with "best by" dates of September 20, 24, or 27, 2025, and labeled with establishment number "P-45288" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators and freezers for these products and to discard them immediately. Listeria infections can be particularly severe for pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems, potentially leading to serious health complications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the Listeria outbreak has resulted in 20 confirmed illnesses across 15 states, with 19 hospitalizations and four deaths. The most recent illness was reported on September 11, 2025.

Investigations have traced the contamination to pre-cooked pasta used in these meals. FreshRealm, the producer, conducted tests confirming that the Listeria strain found in the linguine component matches the strain responsible for a previous outbreak linked to chicken fettuccine alfredo meals recalled in June 2025.

Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them and should either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase. For more information, refer to the FSIS public health alert and the CDC's outbreak investigation updates.