Six people have died and several dozen have been hospitalized across the US after an outbreak of listeria in precooked pasta meals.
The outbreak was first declared in June, leading to a wave of recalls of the pasta meals. It has now spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recently said that six people have died and 25 have been hospitalized across 18 states.
The CDC said that “one pregnancy-associated illness resulted in a fetal loss”.
The linguine, farfalle and other types of infected pasta were sold by retailers including Trader Joe’s, Albertsons, Kroger and Sprouts Farmers Market. The supplier of the products, Nate’s Fine Foods, had discovered listeria in a sample of its pasta, according to federal health officials.
“Nate’s Fine Foods is committed to the highest standards of food safety and the well-being of our consumers,” the company said in a statement in September.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily recalling select products after being notified of a potential link to a multi-state outbreak of listeria monocytogenes.”
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause listeriosis, a condition that causes symptoms such as headache, muscle aches, diarrhea and fever. For high-risk people, such as the elderly and pregnant women, listeria can infect the nervous system, causing severe illnesses, miscarriages and even death.
The CDC said the listeria outbreak has now been found in California, Hawaii, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
The health agency said that people should check their fridges for the recalled products and clean any surfaces that they have touched. Those aged over 65, who are pregnant or who have weakened immune systems should see a doctor immediately if they experience symptoms after eating the infected food.
The recalled pasta dishes are:
FreshRealm’s Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo 12.5-oz (sold at Kroger and Walmart)
FreshRealm’s Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine 12.3-oz and 32.8-oz (sold at Kroger and Walmart)
FreshRealm’s Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce 12-oz. (sold at Walmart)
Albertsons Companies store-made deli pasta salads (sold under multiple brand names including Albertsons, Safeway and Vons)
Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo 16-oz plastic tray packages
Demer Food Group’s Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls 9.6-oz
