Listeria Outbreak Linked to Frozen Pasta Products from California Company
A recent listeria outbreak has swept through 18 states, resulting in six deaths and 27 hospitalizations, with the majority of those affected requiring hospital care. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak has been linked to recalled frozen pasta meals that were sourced from a Northern California company, Nate’s Fine Foods Inc.
The prepared pasta meals were widely available at major grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Kroger, and Sprouts Farmers Market. The CDC reports that the outbreak began in June, with the first cases emerging after consumers ate frozen meals containing contaminated pasta. In one tragic case, a pregnant woman miscarried after becoming ill with listeriosis.
Recalled Products and Supplier Information
Nate’s Fine Foods Inc., the supplier of the contaminated pasta, has expanded its recall of affected products twice, in September and October. The company stated that it was recalling the products out of an “abundance of caution” and that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had conducted extensive testing at its facility, but found no evidence of the specific Listeria monocytogenes strain identified in the outbreak.
Some of the recalled products include Marketside Linguine With Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, sold at Walmart, and Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo. Other affected products include Sprouts Farmers Market smoked mozzarella pasta salad and Scott & Jon’s shrimp scampi with linguini bowl, a precooked frozen meal.
Investigation and Response
The FDA and CDC have been investigating the outbreak, tracing the illnesses to the recalled frozen meals. FreshRealm Inc., the company that produced the chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals, began testing samples of pasta in September, which came back positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA has been working closely with Nate’s Fine Foods to identify the source of the contamination and prevent further illnesses.
The CDC has reported that the outbreak has resulted in six deaths and 27 hospitalizations, with the majority of cases occurring in adults over 65 years old. The agency has urged consumers to check their freezers for recalled products and to discard any affected items to prevent further illnesses.
For more information on the listeria outbreak and recalled products, visit the CDC website or consult with a healthcare professional. To stay up-to-date on food safety recalls and outbreaks, follow reputable sources such as the FDA and CDC.
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