Public Health Alert: Pasta Dishes at Trader Joe’s and Walmart Linked to Listeria Outbreak
The USDA has issued a warning about certain pre-cooked pasta dishes sold at Trader Joe’s and Walmart, which may be contaminated with listeria. These products are more likely to be found in consumers’ refrigerators than on store shelves.
A recent alert from the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) highlighted two specific products with use-by dates in late September and early October: Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce from Walmart, and Trader Joe’s Cajun-style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo.
The potential contamination is linked to Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium associated with a deadly outbreak that has reached 15 states, including California, Texas, and Florida. The outbreak was widely reported in June when recalls of chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals from FreshRealm, Inc. were initiated due to similar concerns.
FreshRealm had initiated tests on the ingredients used in its Marketside-brand linguine dish. These tests returned positive for listeria, prompting further genetic analysis, which confirmed the link to the strain causing the ongoing outbreak, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The outbreak has resulted in four deaths and at least 20 hospitalizations, with one case involving a fetal loss, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Interviews with affected individuals revealed that several had consumed pre-cooked meals, including chicken fettuccine Alfredo, before falling ill. The CDC has noted three new cases since June and cautions that actual numbers may be higher, as not all infections require medical attention.
Symptoms of listeriosis, the infection caused by listeria, can develop within days to weeks after consuming contaminated food and include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues. These are most severe in pregnant individuals, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Trader Joe’s and Walmart Respond
Trader Joe’s has stated that while there have been no positive listeria tests or reported illnesses for the affected dish, they are proactively offering refunds due to shared ingredient concerns. The impacted chicken pasta meals were sold only in select western states with specific use-by dates.
Walmart, on the other hand, has removed the implicated linguine dish from its shelves and is collaborating with suppliers to investigate the issue. “We have removed these products from our impacted stores and we are working with the supplier to investigate,” said Walmart spokesperson Annie Patterson via email to NPR.
The USDA has identified Nate’s Fine Foods as the pasta supplier involved, which does not sell these products directly to consumers. The firm is cooperating with the FDA and monitoring the situation for any necessary recalls.
As the investigation continues, the USDA advises consumers to stay updated via its public health alert page.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
