USDA Alerts on Ready-to-Eat Pasta Meals Linked to Listeria Outbreak
USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for specific ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination linked to a confirmed outbreak.
What this means for you
Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a confirmed Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to the product ingredient, which meets the rubric criteria for 'Severe' (score 4) due to significant injury reports associated with the outbreak strain.
Plain-English summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for ready-to-eat meals containing pre-cooked pasta that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The alert covers specific products sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's. Affected items include Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo sold at Trader Joe's. The alert was updated in late September 2025 to include additional Trader Joe's products and dates.
Whole genome sequencing confirmed that the pasta ingredient used in these meals is genetically related to the Listeria strain responsible for an ongoing outbreak linked to prepared meals. FSIS is coordinating with the FDA, CDC, and state public health partners. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.
Consumers who have purchased these specific products are urged not to consume them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Persons in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and inform their health care provider about the potential exposure.
The recalled product
- Product
- FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Ready-To-Eat Meals Containing Pasta That May Be Contaminated with Listeria
- Brand
- Freshrealm
- Manufacturer
- Freshrealm
- Category
- Food — Ready-to-Eat Meals
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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