By JONEL ALECCIA
Federal well being officers are warning shoppers to not eat sure heat-and-eat pasta meals bought at Walmart and Dealer Joe’s as a result of they could be contaminated with listeria micro organism linked to a lethal outbreak.
The U.S. Agriculture Division up to date a public well being alert Friday that now consists of these merchandise:
• Dealer Joe’s Cajun Model Blackened Hen Breast Fettucine Alfredo bought in 16-ounce plastic trays. The merchandise have best-by dates of Sept. 20, Sept. 24 and Sept. 27. The affected meals have the quantity P- 45288 contained in the USDA inspection mark.
• Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce bought at Walmart in refrigerated 12-ounce clear plastic trays. These merchandise have best-by dates of Sept. 22 by way of Oct. 1. The affected meals include the institution numbers “EST. 50784” and “EST. 47718” contained in the USDA mark of inspection on the label. They have been despatched to Walmart shops nationwide.
Further merchandise could also be recognized, in accordance with USDA’s Meals Security and Inspection Service.
No recall has been issued, however FreshRealm, a big meals producer that distributed the merchandise, mentioned it suggested Walmart this week to tug the meals from retailer cabinets. Walmart officers mentioned they put a cease on gross sales and eliminated the merchandise from shops.
The meals could also be contaminated with the identical pressure of listeria that induced an outbreak tied to hen fettuccine Alfredo bought at Walmart and Kroger shops. 4 folks have been killed killed and no less than 20 sickened as of Sept. 26.
FreshRealm performed exams that detected the listeria in linguine used within the meatball dish, firm officers mentioned. The pressure matched the listeria recognized within the hen fettuccine Alfredo, the corporate mentioned.
“We have long maintained that the source of the listeria was likely an ingredient supplied by a third party,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.
The pasta got here from Nate’s Effective Meals of Roseville, California. The corporate didn’t instantly reply to questions.
Listeria infections may cause critical sickness, significantly in older adults, folks with weakened immune methods and people who are pregnant or their newborns. Signs embrace fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, lack of stability and convulsions.
About 1,600 folks get sick annually from listeria infections and about 260 die, the CDC says. Federal officers in December mentioned they have been revamping protocols to stop listeria infections after a number of high-profile outbreaks, together with one linked to Boar’s Head deli meats that led to 10 deaths and greater than 60 sicknesses final yr.
___
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Schooling and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.
Initially Printed: September 27, 2025 at 10:25 AM PDT
