Listeria Outbreak Linked to Recalled Pasta Meals Results in Six Deaths Across 18 States

A listeria outbreak linked to recalled pasta meals has resulted in six deaths and 27 reported illnesses across 18 U.S. states since August 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most recent data, published on October 30, 2025, includes two additional deaths and seven new illnesses. The affected states are California, Hawaii, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

The outbreak has been traced to pre-cooked pasta produced by Nate's Fine Foods of Roseville, California. In September, the company recalled nearly 245,000 pounds of various pasta products, including linguine, fettuccine, and penne, which were distributed to producers of ready-to-eat meals and pasta salads. These products were sold at major grocery chains such as Walmart and Trader Joe's.

Recalled items include Sprouts Farmers Market Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad, Giant Eagle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad, Kroger deli bowtie and penne pasta salads, Scott & Jon's Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls, Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo, Albertsons store-made deli pasta salads, Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine, and Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators and discard or return any of these recalled products.

Listeria infections can be particularly harmful to pregnant women, individuals aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. The CDC, FDA, and USDA are jointly investigating the outbreak to determine if further contamination exists.