A serious Listeria outbreak linked to frozen pasta meals has killed six people and sickened 27 others in 18 states across the United States. According to the latest update of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all but two were hospitalized, with one of the victims being a pregnant woman whose infection caused the loss of the fetus.
The infection, caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and transmitted by contaminated food, has been reported in the states of California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Utah.
“Since the last case count update of theCDC, On September 25, 2025, seven new cases were reported from three countries, with two additional deaths,” the US Food and Drug Administration said (FDA). This is a list that has grown in recent months; The outbreak began in June, when concerns about listeria led to recalls of ready-to-eat chicken fettuccine alfredo dishes manufactured by FreshRealm Inc.
In response, the company began to test certain pasta samples when, in mid-September, positive results for the bacteria were found. Additional genetic tests confirmed that it is the same strain of listeria that was found in the recalled chicken meals, as reported by theFDA. This discovery led to the recall of two additional products, linguine with beef balls and chicken breast fettuccine in Alfredo flavor – both products that used the same pasta supplier, Nate’s Fine Foodswhich supplies pre-cooked pasta and cereals to the food and restaurant industry.
“At the end of September, the supply company further expanded the recall procedure to include additional portions of pre-cooked pasta including fettuccine, linguini and parfait, after a sample of linguini that was tested was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes,” the FDA said. This is when at the beginning of October pre-prepared pasta salads and noodle dishes sold in chains across the country were also returned.
In a statement from the end of September, the supplier said that it was returning the products “out of an abundance of caution” and apologized for any concern caused to the public. “Public peace is our top priority, and we will continue to take all the necessary steps until the matter is resolved,” she said. The company also added that it is working closely with the authorities to identify the source of the contamination. the-FDAsaid in addition that he works with her to determine if additional product recalls are necessary.
At this point, products returned between June and October are likely still in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers more than on store shelves, most with expiration dates earlier than October 10. Health officials are now urging consumers who have meals of this type to throw them in the trash and thoroughly clean the refrigerators, containers and any surface that comes in contact with the food.
What to know about listeria – or do
listeria infection (Listeriosis) may particularly harm pregnant women and their infants, adults over 65 and people with a weakened immune system. Pregnant women may only experience mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches, but it is important to know that Listeria can also cause miscarriage, premature birth or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal problems, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance. They usually start two weeks after eating contaminated food, but sometimes appear as early as the day of eating or up to ten weeks later, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is sometimes difficult to confirm the extent of the outbreak, as some people recover without medical treatment. For those seeking treatment, theCDC states that it usually takes between three and four weeks to determine whether the illness belongs to a particular outbreak. The center interviewed 13 of the patients as of the end of September; Seven of them reported eating pre-cooked meals before they got sick, and four specifically mentioned eating fettuccine alfredo with chicken. now recommend theCDC and theFDA Consumers should contact a doctor in case of symptoms and report them. You can also report side effects through the website of theFDA.
However, during the past year, several additional listeria outbreaks have been recorded in the US. An outbreak in 2024 related to processed meats caused the death of ten people and dozens of hospitalizations. A report by the US Department of Agriculture published in January attributed the outbreak to “poor cleaning procedures” at a factory of Boar’s Head in Virginia that has since been closed, and recommended additional measures to protect the public.
In February of this year, nearly two million bakery products, including donuts sold at the popular Duncan Donuts chain, were recalled due to listeria concerns. In the same month, frozen smoothies supplied to nursing homes were also returned, following an outbreak that began back in 2018. according to theFDAthat outbreak infected 42 people and killed 14 in 21 countries, before its apparent end was declared last May.