Federal health officials have issued public health alerts, warning consumers against consuming certain heat-and-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's. These warnings stem from concerns that the products may be contaminated with listeria bacteria, a strain previously linked to a deadly outbreak. The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) expanded its alert to include Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettucine Alfredo, available in 16-ounce plastic trays, with best-by dates of September 20, September 24, and September 27. These specific Trader Joe's products can be identified by the establishment number P-45288 within the USDA inspection mark.

Earlier, the USDA had cautioned about Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, sold at Walmart in refrigerated 12-ounce clear plastic trays. These Walmart products carry best-by dates ranging from September 22 through October 1 and contain establishment numbers “EST. 50784” and “EST. 47718” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These meals were distributed to Walmart stores nationwide. While no official recall has been issued by federal agencies, FreshRealm, the food producer and distributor for these products, advised Walmart to remove the meals from shelves, a directive Walmart confirmed it had followed.

The contamination is particularly concerning as the listeria strain detected in these meals matches the one responsible for an outbreak previously tied to chicken fettuccine Alfredo sold at Walmart and Kroger stores. This severe outbreak resulted in the deaths of four individuals and sickened at least 20 people. FreshRealm conducted tests that identified listeria in the linguine used in the meatball dish, confirming its match with the outbreak strain. Company officials stated, “We have long maintained that the source of the listeria was likely an ingredient supplied by a third party,” indicating the pasta itself, supplied by Nate's Fine Foods of Roseville, California, as the probable source.

Listeria infections, or listeriosis, can lead to serious illness, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women or their newborns. Symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Annually, approximately 1,600 people in the U.S. contract listeria infections, with about 260 fatalities, according to the CDC. In response to several high-profile outbreaks, including one linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that caused 10 deaths and over 60 illnesses last year, federal officials announced in December their plans to revamp protocols to prevent future listeria infections.