Listeria Outbreak Linked to Recalled Pasta Meals Results in Six Deaths and 25 Hospitalizations
A listeria outbreak associated with recalled pre-cooked pasta meals has led to six fatalities and 25 hospitalizations across 18 states, prompting health officials to urge consumers to avoid the affected products.
A listeria outbreak linked to recalled pre-cooked pasta meals has resulted in six deaths and 25 hospitalizations across 18 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak has been traced to ready-to-eat pasta products supplied by Nate's Fine Foods, a California-based company.
The affected products include Sprouts Farmers Market smoked mozzarella pasta salad, Scott & Jon's shrimp scampi with linguini bowls, Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo, and Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce. These items were distributed nationwide and have been recalled due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
Nate's Fine Foods stated in September: "Out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily recalling select products after being notified of a potential link to a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes."
Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled products. Listeriosis can cause symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
The CDC reports that listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, with approximately 1,250 infections and 172 deaths annually.
Health officials continue to investigate the outbreak and recommend that consumers check their refrigerators and freezers for the recalled products, discarding them if found. For a complete list of recalled items, consumers can refer to the FDA's official website.