The Global Debate Over How Much Listeria is Too Much

In the wake of a 2025 multistate outbreak linked to prepared pasta meals that resulted in dozens of hospitalizations and multiple deaths , a complex question confronts food safety regulators, manufacturers, and consumers: what is the acceptable amount of a deadly pathogen in food? The investigation, which traced Listeria monocytogenes contamination to pre-cooked pasta from a single supplier, triggered a cascade of recalls affecting products from major national retailers including Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Albertsons. As of late October 2025, this outbreak had sickened 27 people across 18 states, led to 25 hospitalizations, caused six confirmed deaths, and resulted in one pregnancy loss. This public health crisis has brought renewed scrutiny to a long-standing scientific and regulatory deba