Federal food safety officials have issued an urgent recall of certain ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, and Trader Joe’s due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. These products have been linked to a deadly outbreak that has claimed four lives and sickened at least 20 others across 15 states.
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What Happened
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health warning for specific ready-to-eat pasta products. The recalled products include:
- Walmart and Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo (16‑oz trays) containing beef meatballs and marinara sauce (12‑oz trays).
Initial testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in these products. The contamination has been linked to the ongoing outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to investigate the source of contamination to prevent further illness.
Impact of the Outbreak
According to the CDC, this outbreak has resulted in four deaths and at least 20 confirmed illnesses across 15 states.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause a severe infection called listeriosis. It is especially dangerous for high-risk groups, including:
- Pregnant women
- Adults over 65
- People with weakened immune systems
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance. In pregnant women, infection can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening illness in newborns.
Affected Products and Labels
Walmart: Beef Meatball and Marinara Sauce meals (best used between September 22 and October 1, 2025) distributed nationwide. Labels contain inspection numbers “EST. 50784” or “EST. 47718” inside the USDA inspection mark.
Trader Joe’s: Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo, with “Best By” dates of September 20, 24, or 27, labeled with “P-45288” inside the USDA inspection mark.
Albertsons and Safeway: Voluntarily recalled additional prepared foods supplied by the same company, including:
- Basil Pesto Rotini Pasta Salad
- Grilled Chicken and Basil Pasta (Extra Large)
- Palak Pasta Salad
- Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who purchased any of these affected products should not eat them. Instead, they should:
- Return the product to the store for a refund
- Dispose of the product safely if returning is not possible
Although the recalled products have been removed from store shelves, contaminated food may still be in consumers’ homes.
Risk of Listeria
Listeria infections are especially dangerous for high-risk groups. If any individual who consumed the recalled products develops flu-like symptoms within two months, they should seek immediate medical attention and inform their healthcare provider of possible Listeria exposure.
Contact Information
Consumers with questions can contact NAT’s Fine Foods at (916) 677‑7303, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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