By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS STAFF
Your Health Matters | October 13, 2025
Check your refrigerator — several ready-to-eat pasta meals have been recalled nationwide after being linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak that has killed four people and sickened at least 20 others, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The pasta dishes, sold at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Albertsons, and Kroger, were made by Nate’s Fine Foods, which is recalling specific lots after tests found contamination with Listeria monocytogenes — a bacteria that can cause severe illness or death, especially in pregnant women, newborns, seniors, and those with weakened immune systems.
Recalled Items Include:
Trader Joe’s Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo; Walmart’s Marketside Chicken Alfredo and Linguine with Meatballs; Kroger and Albertsons deli pasta salads; Sprouts and Giant Eagle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salads; and Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi.
How It Spreads:
Listeria thrives in unsanitary processing conditions and can contaminate foods after cooking. Once established, it can form a biofilm that resists cleaning, making outbreaks hard to control.
Symptoms to Watch:
Fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, and diarrhea may appear days to weeks after exposure. Severe infections can lead to seizures, confusion, or meningitis.
Protect Your Family:
Throw away recalled foods, wash hands and kitchen surfaces, and cook food thoroughly. Early medical care and antibiotics are crucial if symptoms develop.
Stay alert — check your fridge and share this warning.