The CDC links a listeria outbreak across 18 states to frozen pasta used in recalled ready-to-eat meals, reporting six deaths and 27 illnesses, most requiring hospitalization. Investigators traced contaminated pasta to Nate’s Fine Foods after FreshRealm’s testing found Listeria monocytogenes in September; Nate’s and FDA facility testing have not identified the outbreak strain. Recalled items were sold at major retailers including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger and Sprouts — check recall lists and discard matching frozen products. The investigation and testing are ongoing.
Frozen Pasta Linked to Deadly Listeria Outbreak — 6 Dead, 27 Sickened Across 18 States
The CDC links a listeria outbreak across 18 states to frozen pasta used in recalled ready-to-eat meals, reporting six deaths and 27 illnesses, most requiring hospitalization. Investigators traced contaminated pasta to Nate’s Fine Foods after FreshRealm’s testing found Listeria monocytogenes in September; Nate’s and FDA facility testing have not identified the outbreak strain. Recalled items were sold at major retailers including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger and Sprouts — check recall lists and discard matching frozen products. The investigation and testing are ongoing.
09:07, 06.11.2025Health
Frozen pasta in recalled ready-to-eat meals tied to nationwide listeria outbreak
A multi-state listeria outbreak that federal health officials say has affected 18 states has been linked to frozen pasta used in ready-to-eat meals sold at major grocery chains. As of late October, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported six deaths and 27 illnesses, most of which required hospitalization. In one tragic case, a pregnant woman miscarried after becoming ill.
The outbreak began in June and prompted a nationwide food-safety investigation. Federal investigators traced the illnesses to recalled frozen meals that contained pasta supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods Inc., based in Roseville, California. In September, testing by an intermediary processor, FreshRealm Inc., detected Listeria monocytogenes in pasta samples; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) subsequently identified Nate’s as the supplier of that pasta.
Company and agency statements: Nate’s has expanded its list of recalled products in September and October and said on its website that recalls were issued “out of an abundance of caution.” The company also stated that FDA testing at its facility had not found the specific outbreak strain. The FDA and CDC continue to investigate and analyze test results to identify the precise contamination source and pathway.
Recalled products and retail availability: The implicated prepared pasta meals were sold at major U.S. grocery chains. Examples of recalled items and reported use-by or sell-by dates include:
- Marketside Linguine With Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce (Walmart) — use-by dates in late September and early October
- Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo — similar late-September/early-October dates
- Sprouts Farmers Market smoked mozzarella pasta salad — mid- to late-October sell-by dates
- Scott & Jon's precooked shrimp scampi with linguini bowl — mid- to late-October sell-by dates
FreshRealm’s initial recalls of chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals helped prompt further testing and tracking that identified the contaminated pasta source.
Health advisory: Health officials urge consumers to check official recall notices, compare product names and dates, and discard any frozen pasta products that match recalled items. People who suspect they are ill with listeriosis should seek medical attention immediately; symptoms can be severe, especially for pregnant people, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.
The investigation is ongoing. Federal and state public-health agencies continue to publish updates and recall lists; consumers should follow guidance from the CDC, FDA and their local health departments for the latest information.