CDC Warns of Deadly Listeria Outbreak in Recalled Pasta Meals

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that it is investigating a multistate Listeria outbreak tied to prepared pasta meals sold at major grocers.

• There were 27 cases, 25 hospitalizations and six deaths across 18 states as of October 30, 2025.
• The products include FreshRealm prepared meals with pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods.
• Almost 245,000 pounds of pre-cooked pasta were recalled.
• Brands and retailers include Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Sprouts, Home Chef and more.
• If you believe you have any recalled food (including specific products from brands such as Scott & Jon’s or Nate’s Fine Foods, and food from retailers like Sprouts, Trader Joe’s and Walmart), check the CDC website for a full list and do not eat any recalled food.

Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one was diagnosed with listeriosis after eating a recalled meal. You may qualify for financial compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death

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Choosing the right attorney is one of the most important steps in a Listeria claim. Here is why many clients trust Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers.

• Our experienced food poisoning lawyers have been successfully recovering compensation for food poisoning victims since 1990.
• Our team has handled countless cases against restaurants, food distributors and food manufacturers.
• We have recovered over $750,000,000 for our clients.
• We won’t charge any fee to handle your Listeria infection case until we win it, since our only fee is a percentage of any compensation recovered.
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You do not have to deal with this alone. Reach out to us to learn your legal options and next steps.

What Is Listeria?

• Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacteria which causes a potentially life-threatening infection known as listeriosis.
• Listeriosis can cause a mild intestinal illness, but it can also cause an invasive, severe infection which spreads past the gut.
• 20-30 percent of listeriosis cases may be fatal in high-risk individuals.
• Listeriosis is responsible for about 260 deaths and 1,600 illnesses in the United States each year.
• The primary infection site is the epithelium of the intestines.
• Mortality rates may reach over 80 percent for neonatal/perinatal infections, 50 percent for infections involving sepsis, and 70 percent for infections involving meningitis.

What Is a Listeria Outbreak?

According to the CDC, Listeria outbreaks are events where two or more people get sick from the same food or drink contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. Health agencies issue product recalls when links to outbreaks are confirmed.

What Causes It

• Contaminated food: The main cause is eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
• Contamination sources: Food can be contaminated during preparation, handling or processing. Contamination may occur in food processing facilities. The bacteria may spread to food by contacting contaminated equipment or surfaces.
• Inadequate sanitation: As a 2024 deli meat Listeria outbreak showed, inadequate sanitation practices at processing facilities can end up leading to widespread contamination. Inadequate sanitation practices include not storing foods at appropriate temperatures, not cleaning surfaces properly and not washing hands thoroughly.
• Complex food supply chains: Global, complex food supply chains can lead to a higher chance of contamination, making it more difficult to trace outbreaks’ sources.
• The bacteria can be found in many different foods, and can grow and survive in refrigerated conditions.
• The bacteria can survive on surfaces and in water and soil. Food products can be contaminated when they contact contaminated water or soil.
• Once foods are contaminated, the bacteria may spread to other foods, hands and surfaces, leading to additional contamination.

Common Food Sources

• Cold-smoked fish such as lox
• Undercooked or raw seafood and meats
• Sausages, hot dogs and deli meats
• Unwashed or raw vegetables and fruits, including sprouts
• Unpasteurized dairy products such as queso fresco and soft cheeses
• Prepared or pre-packaged meals, including salads and precooked pasta meals
• Pasteurized fluid milk
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Ice cream

Who Is Most at Risk

• Pregnant women
• Newborns
• Those with weakened immune systems like those with diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, or those who have had organ transplants
• Those 65 years old or older

Timeline of the Listeria Outbreak

• The first sickness in the outbreak occurred on August 1, 2024, according to this CDC page.
• Additional cases have occurred in September, November and December of 2024, as well as January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September and October of 2025.
• The CDC, USDA and FDA have traced the contamination to FreshRealm’s prepackaged meals using pasta made by Nate’s Fine Foods.
• The first recalls began in early October 2025, expanding as testing confirmed Listeria contamination.
• 27 illnesses and six deaths have been reported across 18 states as of October 30, 2025.
• One pregnancy-associated illness resulted in the loss of a fetus.

Which Food Products Were Recalled?

Multiple prepared pasta and deli products have been identified in recent Listeria contamination alerts. These items were sold at major grocery chains across the United States and may have been purchased fresh from deli counters or sold in pre-packaged containers. Consumers who purchased any of the products listed below should check their packaging and discard the item immediately if the use-by or best-by dates fall within the affected ranges.

• Sprouts Farmers Market Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad, use by dates ranging from October 10, 2025 through October 29, 2025
• Kroger deli bowtie and penne pasta salads, sold from August 29, 2025 through October 2, 2025
• Giant Eagle smoked mozzarella pasta salad with expiration dates ranging from September 30, 2025 through October 7, 2025
• Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo plastic tray packages, 16 oz., with “best if used by” dates of September 20, 2025, September 24, 2025, September 27, 2025, September 28, 2025, October 1, 2025, October 3, 2025, October 5, 2025, October 8, 2025, and October 10, 2025
• 9.6 oz. Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls with best if used by dates of March 12, 2027, March 13, 2027, March 17, 2027, and March 21, 2027
• 12 oz. Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce with best if used by dates of September 22, 2025, September 24, 2025, September 25, 2025, September 29, 2025, September 30, 2025 and October 1, 2025
• Albertsons store-made deli pasta salads with sell through dates ranging from September 8, 2025 to October 4, 2025
• 12.5 oz. Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with best-by dates of June 19, 2025 or earlier
• 12.3 oz. Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine with best-by dates of June 26, 2025 or earlier
• 32.8 oz. Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine with best-by dates of June 27, 2025 or earlier

Where Were These Meals Sold?

• Sprouts Farmers Market
• Giant Eagle
• Market District
• Kroger
• City Market
• Baker’s
• Fred Meyer
• Dillons
• Gerbes
• Fry’s
• Payless
• King Soopers
• Smith’s
• Ralphs
• Trader Joe’s
• Walmart
• Albertsons
• Albertsons Market
• Andronico’s Community Markets
• Amigos
• Eagle
• Carrs-Safeway
• Pavilions
• Pak ‘N Save
• Randalls
• Market Street
• Tom Thumb
• Safeway
• Vons
• United

Some of the recalled foods may have been sold at additional stores.

What States Have a Listeria Outbreak?

• Washington
• Oregon
• California
• Nevada
• Utah
• Texas
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Louisiana
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Virginia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Florida
• Hawaii

This list is accurate as of October 30, 2025.

What Caused the Listeria Outbreak?

• The cause of the Listeria outbreak linked with six deaths has not been announced.
• There is an ongoing investigation into the listeria outbreak.

Symptoms of Listeria

Listeria infection can cause a wide range of symptoms, and they may vary depending on a person’s age, health, and immune status. Some people develop mild, flu-like symptoms, while others experience severe and life-threatening complications. Common symptoms include:

• Muscle aches and fever
• Stiff neck
• Headache
• Loss of balance
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Convulsions
• The symptoms usually appear one to four weeks following exposure, but may appear as long as 70 days after exposure.
• In pregnant women: The symptoms might be mild, but may lead to stillbirth, miscarriage or life-threatening infections in newborns.
• Invasive listeriosis: In high-risk people, the bacteria may spread to the bloodstream and brain, leading to serious complications such as sepsis or meningitis which often need hospitalization.

If you experience any of these symptoms after eating contaminated food, seek medical attention right away. Early diagnosis can help prevent complications and may be critical for pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

What to Do If You Bought a Recalled Product

• Immediately contact your healthcare provider if you’ve eaten an affected food, particularly if you have symptoms such as a fever, digestive issues or muscle aches.
• Review your refrigerator and freezer for any products from recalled brands. Do not eat any recalled food. Discard any recalled food, but keep any receipts, packaging or medical documentation to support your case.
• Check public health agencies for any recalls.
• Monitor for listeriosis symptoms for numerous weeks following exposure, as the illness can take time to develop.
• Clean surfaces, containers and refrigerators which might have touched affected foods, since the bacteria can survive in a refrigerator and can spread easily to other surfaces and foods.
• Call an experienced food poisoning lawyer to find out if you qualify for financial compensation if you’ve been diagnosed with listeriosis.

Who Can File a Listeria Claim?

Anyone who has been diagnosed with listeriosis after eating a recalled product may have grounds for a legal claim. Families of those hospitalized or deceased can pursue wrongful death lawsuits or product liability lawsuits.

Contact a Food Poisoning Lawyer Today

Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one was diagnosed with listeriosis after consuming recalled food.

Our experienced food poisoning attorneys can assist injured individuals with their claims because we:

• Have been handling food poisoning cases for over 35 years
• Have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients
• Won’t charge any legal fee until we win your case
• Will aggressively and tenaciously pursue compensation for your illness
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• Will negotiate with defendants and their insurance companies to maximize your compensation
• Are prepared to represent you in court, as we have over three decades of trial experience