Major Pasta Recall: Listeria Outbreak Claims Four Lives, Sickens Dozens
Roseville, CA — A significant public health alert has been issued following the recall of nearly 245,000 pounds (approximately 111,130 kilograms) of pre-cooked pasta by a California-based company, Nate’s Fine Foods. This massive recall comes amidst a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has tragically claimed four lives and sickened at least 20 individuals across the nation since August 2025. The latest reported illness occurred on September 11, highlighting the urgency of this widespread food safety concern.
The Source of Contamination Uncovered
On September 25, Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville initiated the recall of various pasta products, including linguine, fettuccine, and penne. These pastas were distributed to major producers of ready-to-eat meals and pasta salads, becoming a foundational ingredient in numerous popular heat-and-eat dishes sold in grocery stores across the country.
The critical link to the deadly outbreak was established after rigorous testing revealed that pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods harbored the identical strain of Listeria monocytogenes responsible for the illnesses. FreshRealm, a San Clemente, California-based company that manufactured some of the meals implicated in the outbreak—specifically chicken fettuccine Alfredo and meatball linguine products—utilized advanced genetic sequencing to definitively confirm the connection between the contaminated pasta and the outbreak strain.
Understanding the Threat: Listeria Monocytogenes
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a serious and sometimes fatal infection. Symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. While healthy individuals may only experience short-term symptoms, listeriosis poses a severe risk to pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
Widespread Impact: Recalls Across Major Retailers
Following the confirmed link, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued urgent warnings, advising consumers to immediately discard any potentially affected products or return them to the point of purchase for a full refund. This has led to a cascade of product recalls from several prominent grocery chains nationwide.
Here is a detailed list of products recalled to date:
- Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad: Sold from the deli service counter or Grab & Go section with best-by dates ranging from October 10 to October 29.
- Giant Eagle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad: Products with expiration dates from September 30 through October 7.
- Kroger Stores Deli Pasta Salads: This includes both bowtie and penne pasta salads, sold between August 29 and October 2.
- Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls: 9.6-ounce packages with specific “best if used by” dates of March 12, March 13, March 17, and March 21, 2027.
- Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettucine Alfredo: 16-ounce plastic tray packages featuring “best if used by” dates of September 20, September 24, September 27, September 28, October 1, October 3, October 5, October 8, and October 10.
- Albertsons Stores Deli Pasta Salads: Various store-made deli pasta salads with “sell thru” dates ranging from September 8 to October 4.
- Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce: 12-ounce packages with “best-by” dates of September 22, September 24, September 25, September 29, September 30, and October 1.
- Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine: 12.3-ounce packages with a “best-by” date of June 26, 2025, or prior; and 32.8-ounce packages with a “best-by” date of June 27, 2025, or prior.
- Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo: 12.5-ounce packages with a “best-by” date of June 19, 2025, or prior.
Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers for any of these products and to adhere strictly to the recall advisories to prevent further illnesses.
