Listeria outbreak: Many people dead after consuming recalled pasta meals - check yours immediately

A nationwide food safety crisis has left seven people dead and 27 others sick after consuming recalled pasta meals linked to a Listeria outbreak.

What caused the Listeria outbreak?

The Listeria outbreak tied to ready-to-eat pasta meals has now expanded, claiming seven lives and sickening 27 people in 18 states, according to federal health officials. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) confirmed that the source of contamination was precooked pasta supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods Inc.

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The company addressed the incident, stating, “Our top priority is ensuring the safety of the people who enjoy our products, and we will continue to take all appropriate steps until this matter is resolved. … Nate’s Fine Foods sincerely apologizes for the concern this may cause. We remain fully committed to transparency and to taking every necessary step to protect the health and trust of our consumers.”

Which products were recalled?

Following positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes, Nate’s Fine Foods voluntarily recalled more than 245,000 pounds of its prepared pasta dishes. The recalled items include:

• Sprouts Farmers Market smoked mozzarella pasta salad – Use-by dates between October 10, 2025, and October 29, 2025.
  
  
• Scott & Jon’s shrimp scampi with linguini bowls – Use-by dates in March 2027, 9.6 oz packages.
  
  

Officials added that some recalled foods were already past their best-by dates, yet consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers immediately, as per a report by the CDC.

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How dangerous is a Listeria infection?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria is “a bacteria that can contaminate many foods.” Symptoms may appear the same day or even up to 10 weeks after consuming contaminated products. In this outbreak, cases have resulted in six deaths and one fetal loss, underscoring the severe risk.

The CDC confirmed that samples collected from Nate’s Fine Foods tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, prompting the immediate recall. The FDA, USDA-FSIS, and CDC are now coordinating efforts to trace product distribution and prevent further infections, as per a report by News4SA.

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Federal health agencies continue to monitor the outbreak and investigate how the contamination occurred. The recall highlights the critical importance of food safety in mass production and the potential dangers of consuming ready-to-eat meals without proper handling. Consumers are strongly urged to discard any recalled products to avoid the risk of infection.

FAQs

Which products are linked to the Listeria outbreak?
Recalled meals include pasta salads and shrimp scampi dishes supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods.

Where were the recalled pasta meals sold?
The affected items were distributed nationwide through stores such as Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Kroger, and Walmart.