Recalled Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, sold at Walmart.
Recalled Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo, sold at Trader Joe's.
Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo products sold at Kroger are part of the listeria recall.

Four people are dead and nearly two dozen were hospitalized due to a listeria outbreak connected to recalled ready-to-eat products sold nationwide at Walmart, Trader Joe's, Kroger and Albertsons stores, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially reported a recall involving prepared pasta meals on Thursday, Sept. 25, while investigating an outbreak of listeria monocytogenes contamination, which can cause listeriosis and listeria poisoning.

The federal agencies expanded the food safety alert this week, reporting the outbreak is now known to have occurred in 15 states, with a total of 20 confirmed infections as of Sept. 30.

Here's what to know about the updated recall, including which states have reported related listeriosis cases.

4 dead in listeria outbreak, cases reported in 15 states

The listeria outbreak was first announced in June, when the CDC began investigating reports of illness.

As of Sept. 30, there were 20 confirmed cases of listeria poisoning linked to the outbreak, the CDC reported. Of those, 19 people were hospitalized, and four died. In one case, a pregnant woman experienced fetal loss as a result of a related infection.

In addition to Utah, deaths took place in Illinois, Michigan and Texas. Associated infections were confirmed in the following states: California (2 cases), Florida (1 case), Illinois (1 case), Indiana (1 case), Louisiana (2 cases), Michigan (2 cases), Minnesota (1 case), Missouri (1 case), Nevada (1 case), North Carolina (1 case), Ohio (1 case), South Carolina (1 case), Texas (3 cases), Utah (1 case) and Virginia (1 case).

The numbers are only the known cases and likely do not represent the full extent of the outbreak, according to the CDC.

Recalled Walmart, Trader Joe's, Kroger and Albertsons products

Ready-to-eat pasta products were sold at Walmart, Trader Joe's, Kroger and Albertsons stores nationwide.

Walmart

  • Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce: Sold in 12-ounce clear plastic tray packages with best-by dates of Sept. 22, Sept. 24, Sept. 25, Sept. 29, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2025; establishment number EST. 50784 or EST. 47718 inside the USDA mark of inspection.
  • Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine: Sold in 12.3, 12.5 and 32.8-ounce tray packages with best-by dates of June 19, June 26 and June 27, 2025, or prior; establishment number EST. P-50784, EST. P-47770 or EST. P-47718 printed inside the USDA mark of inspection.

"Walmart and Sam’s Club are committed to the health and safety of our customers and members and to providing products that are safe and compliant, all supported by our health and wellness, product safety, and food safety professionals," Walmart wrote on its website.

Trader Joe's

  • Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo: Sold in 16-ounce plastic tray packages with best-by dates of Sept. 20, Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, 2025; establishment number P-45288 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

"We are issuing this guidance in an abundance of caution because testing of another brand with a shared ingredient source indicated this product may have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes," Trader Joe's said in a statement.

Kroger and Albertsons:

  • Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo: Sold in 12.5-ounce tray packages with best-by date of June 19, 2025, or prior; establishment numbers EST. P-50784, EST. P-47770 or EST. P-47718 printed on the side of the packaging inside the USDA mark of inspection; sold at Kroger stores.
  • Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 27133000000; best-by dates from Sept. 13 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at Albertsons and Safeway locations in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming.
  • Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 29492100000; best-by dates from Sept. 13 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at Albertsons and Safeway locations in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming.
  • Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 27133000000; best-by dates from Sept. 8 through Sept. 26, 2025; distributed at Albertsons, Pavilions, Safeway and Vons locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.
  • Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 29492100000; best-by dates from Sept. 8 through Sept. 26, 2025; distributed at Albertsons, Pavilions, Safeway and Vons locations in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.
  • Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 27133000000; best-by dates from Sept. 20 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at Albertsons, Randalls and Tom Thumb locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
  • Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 29492100000; best-by dates from Sept. 20 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at Albertsons, Randalls and Tom Thumb locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
  • Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 21649200000; best-by dates from Sept. 11 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at Safeway, Andronico's Community Markets, Vons and Pak 'N Save locations in California, Hawaii and Nevada.
  • Grilled Chicken & Basil Pasta Extra Large: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 21303500000; best-by dates from Sept. 18 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at Carrs-Safeway, Eagle and Safeway locations in Alaska.
  • Ready Meals Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 29130800000; best-by dates from Sept. 18 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at Carrs-Safeway, Eagle and Safeway locations in Alaska.
  • Ready Meals Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 21142600000; best-by dates from Sept. 16 through Sept. 26, 2025; distributed at United, Amigos, Market Street and Albertsons Market locations in New Mexico and Texas.
  • Ready Meals Basil Bowtie Pasta Salad: Sold in bulk packages labeled with product code 21191300000; best-by dates from Sept. 16 through Sept. 29, 2025; distributed at United, Amigos, Market Street and Albertsons Market locations in New Mexico and Texas.

What to do with recalled pasta meals

Both the CDC and FDA advise returning affected products to the place of purchase for a refund or tossing them in the trash.

Wash and sanitize bowls, cups, storage containers and other surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products. Always thoroughly wash your hands after handling and preparing food, especially raw or uncooked products.

What are the symptoms of listeria poisoning?

Listeria poisoning is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, according to the CDC. It is considered a serious condition and can be dangerous or life-threatening, especially to older adults, people with weak immune systems and pregnant women.

Per the CDC, symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Muscle aches
  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Confusion
  • Loss of balance
  • Convulsions
  • Diarrhea
  • Other gastrointestinal symptoms
  • Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and/or life-threatening infection of newborn infants
  • Death

Those in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care, according to the CDC.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Listeria outbreak possibly linked to pasta meals leaves 4 dead, expands to 15 states

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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