Listeria Outbreak Tied to Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Walmart Meals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an urgent update on a nationwide food safety alert tied to a deadly Listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at major grocery chains. The outbreak, which has now expanded to 15 states, has left 20 people sick, 19 hospitalized, and four dead.

How the Outbreak Unfolded

The CDC reported that the first cases connected to this outbreak were identified in August 2024. By the end of that year, five people had been infected. In 2025, the pace of illness accelerated, with 15 new cases reported so far. The most recent confirmed illness occurred on September 11.

“This outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely higher than the number reported,” the CDC said in its latest update.

Which Products Are Affected

Several prepared pasta meal products have been identified as potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. According to both the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the following meals are included in the ongoing recall and safety warnings:

• Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce (Walmart brand)

• Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo

• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine and Parmesan Cheese

• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine, Broccoli, and Parmesan Cheese

• Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Pasta and Parmesan Cheese

• FreshRealm Beef Meatball Marinara Linguine Meals

The products were sold under different labels at Kroger, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s, with varying sell-by dates. Some may already be past their expiration but could still be stored in home refrigerators or freezers. Officials urge consumers to check any pasta meal products against the recall lists provided by the CDC and FSIS.

States Affected So Far

The outbreak has been linked to cases across 15 states:

• California (2 cases)

• Florida (1 case)

• Illinois (1 case)

• Indiana (1 case)

• Louisiana (2 cases)

• Michigan (2 cases)

• Minnesota (1 case)

• Missouri (1 case)

• Nevada (1 case)

• North Carolina (1 case)

• Ohio (1 case)

• South Carolina (1 case)

• Texas (3 cases)

• Utah (1 case)

• Virginia (1 case)

With Listeria infections sometimes taking weeks to develop symptoms, health officials warn that additional cases may yet emerge.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes a serious infection called listeriosis. While rare, listeriosis can be deadly. The CDC estimates that about 1,250 cases occur in the U.S. each year, leading to around 172 deaths.

The infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms can vary depending on the individual. In pregnant people, Listeria can cause fever and flu-like illness but may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe newborn infection. In others, symptoms of invasive listeriosis can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Non-invasive intestinal illness typically presents as diarrhea and vomiting.

What Consumers Should Do

Anyone who has purchased one of the recalled pasta meals should not eat it. The FSIS advises consumers to either throw away the products or return them to the store where they were bought.

The CDC also recommends that refrigerators and surfaces that may have come into contact with recalled food be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, since Listeria can survive and spread at cold temperatures.

Consumers can find full recall details, including product codes and expiration dates, on the CDC’s food safety alert page and the FSIS recall notices.

The Bigger Picture

Food borne illness outbreaks tied to ready-to-eat meals have raised increasing concern in recent years, particularly because these products are often marketed as quick, convenient options for families. Unlike raw meats or unwashed produce, consumers may not expect a risk from pre-packaged meals that only require reheating.

The current outbreak highlights the importance of both robust food safety inspections and consumer awareness. With multiple major retailers involved and products distributed across the country, the scale of exposure is significant.

While the CDC and FSIS continue to monitor the outbreak, health officials urge the public to stay alert for additional product recalls and to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms consistent with Listeria infection.

Did you find this information useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline to share with your friends.