Outbreak Investigation of Listeria: Prepared Pasta Meals and Expanded Recalls

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria: Prepared Pasta Meals and Expanded Recalls

A multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes tied to prepared pasta meals has prompted an expanding series of recalls, intense laboratory work, and urgent warnings from federal agencies. What began in mid-2025 as a cluster of severe illnesses linked to heat-and-eat chicken fettuccine alfredo has grown into an investigation that spans dozens of product lines, multiple manufacturers and distributors, and the discovery of Listeria in a pre-cooked pasta ingredient. Public-health authorities emphasize swift product removal and careful cleaning because Listeria causes disproportionate harm to pregnant people, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

A Short Timeline: From Chicken Alfredo to a Wider