Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ready-to-Eat Pasta Meals Leaves 6 Dead, 27 Sickened Nationwide

A nationwide Listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat pasta meals has now claimed six lives and sickened 27 people across at least 18 states, according to a joint update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Federal health officials announced Thursday that two additional deaths and seven new illnesses have been confirmed since their last update on September 25. The outbreak has been linked to multiple recalled products sold at major grocery chains including Trader Joe’s, Albertsons, Sprouts, Kroger, and Giant Eagle.

The FDA reports that 25 of the 27 individuals infected have been hospitalized, and at least one pregnancy-associated illness resulted in fetal loss. The most recent reported case occurred on October 16, 2025.

Cases have been reported in the following states:
California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

Health officials caution that additional states may be affected as the investigation continues and more laboratory data becomes available.

Recalled Products Linked to the Listeria Outbreak

The outbreak has been traced to ready-to-eat pasta and deli salads produced and distributed under several brand names. Many of these items were sold fresh in deli sections or prepackaged trays with “use by” or “best if used by” dates extending through late October 2025.

Products currently under recall include:

• Sprouts Farmers Market Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad (use by dates 10/10/25 – 10/29/25)
• Giant Eagle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad (expiration 9/30/25 – 10/7/25)
• Kroger Deli Bowtie and Penne Pasta Salads (sold between 8/29/25 – 10/2/25)
• Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (16 oz trays with use by 9/20/25 – 10/10/25)
• Albertsons Deli Pasta Salads (sell thru dates 9/8/25 – 10/4/25)
• Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce (use by 9/22/25 – 10/1/25)
• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (best-by 6/26/25 and prior)
• Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (12.5 oz) (best-by 6/19/25 and prior)
• Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls (9.6 oz) (best if used by 3/12/27 – 3/21/27)

The FDA warns consumers not to eat any recalled items, even if they appear or smell normal. The bacteria can continue to grow in refrigerated environments, and contamination may not be detectable by taste or odor.

Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers immediately and discard or return recalled products to the point of purchase.

What Is Listeria and Why Is It Dangerous?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a severe infection that primarily affects:

• Older adults (65+)
• Pregnant women and newborns
• People with weakened immune systems (including cancer, diabetes, and transplant patients)

According to the CDC, roughly 1,600 Americans contract listeriosis each year, and about 260 die from the infection.

Symptoms of Listeriosis include:

• Fever and chills
• Muscle aches
• Headache and stiff neck
• Nausea or diarrhea
• Confusion or loss of balance
• Convulsions in severe cases

For pregnant women, infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns.

Symptoms can appear as early as 1 day or as late as 70 days after consuming contaminated food, making outbreaks difficult to trace without thorough laboratory testing and reporting.

How Listeria Contamination Happens in Prepared Foods

Listeria contamination often begins during production or packaging when foods are exposed to contaminated equipment, surfaces, or water.

Ready-to-eat meals like pasta salads and deli foods are especially vulnerable because they are:

• Consumed without further cooking, which kills bacteria;
• Stored at refrigerator temperatures where Listeria can still multiply;
• Handled frequently during preparation, transport, and display.

If a single ingredient—like cheese, cooked chicken, or pasta—is contaminated, it can easily spread throughout production batches before detection.

Manufacturers and grocery chains are required under FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules to implement preventive controls and environmental testing programs to reduce these risks. When these safeguards fail, serious outbreaks can occur.

Legal Rights for Victims of Foodborne Illness

When contaminated food causes serious illness or death, victims and their families have the right to pursue compensation through a product liability or wrongful death claim.

Food producers, distributors, and retailers can be held liable under strict product liability laws for selling unsafe products — even if negligence is not proven.

Recoverable damages may include:

• Medical bills and hospitalization costs
• Lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Funeral and burial expenses (in fatal cases)
• Loss of companionship and support for surviving family members

In cases where the outbreak stems from systemic negligence, such as failure to follow FDA sanitation standards or ignoring contamination test results, victims may also seek punitive damages to deter future misconduct.

Because foodborne illness claims require scientific evidence (lab confirmation, trace-back records, and epidemiological links), it’s critical to involve an attorney with experience in food safety litigation and product liability law.

Steps Consumers Should Take Immediately

If you believe you or a loved one may have been exposed to contaminated ready-to-eat pasta meals:

1. Check your refrigerator and freezer for recalled brands and discard them safely.
2. Sanitize surfaces and shelves where recalled items were stored.
3. Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, or gastrointestinal distress.
4. Request testing for Listeria — early detection is crucial for effective treatment.
5. Report suspected cases to your local health department or the CDC’s foodborne illness hotline.
6. Consult a foodborne illness attorney to preserve evidence and understand your legal rights.

Even mild symptoms should not be ignored, especially among high-risk populations.

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury and Wrongful Death Law Firm, we represent victims of foodborne illness outbreaks, product contamination, and wrongful death cases across Florida.

Our firm has experience investigating complex contamination cases involving:

• Grocery chains and food distributors
• Ready-to-eat and packaged meal manufacturers
• Institutional suppliers and restaurants

We work with epidemiologists, microbiologists, and FDA-regulated food safety experts to trace the cause of infection and prove corporate accountability.

Our attorneys handle all communication with insurers, manufacturers, and government investigators, allowing victims and families to focus on recovery.

We intentionally maintain a limited caseload to provide personalized attention and direct access to your attorney throughout the process.

If you or a loved one became seriously ill—or lost a family member—after eating a recalled or contaminated food product, the attorneys at Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury and Wrongful Death Law Firm are ready to help.

📞 Call 305-638-4143 or contact us online for a free consultation in English or Spanish. You pay no fees unless we win, and we handle all litigation costs upfront.