6 dead, 25 hospitalized in listeria outbreak linked to prepared pasta meals

Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News on Nov 4, 2025

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Six people have been confirmed dead and 25 others have been hospitalized due to a listeria outbreak linked to pre-cooked pasta meals sold at Trader Joe‘s and other major stores across the country.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has spread to 18 states, including California, Illinois, Florida and Washington, and is believed to be tied to prepared pasta meals by Nate’s Fine Foods that had previously been recalled.

“CDC and states are working to get information on whether sick people ate recalled food or if additional foods may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” the Food & Drug Administration said in a statement. “Consumers should double-check their refrigerators and freezers for recalled foods.”

Listeria, which can contaminate different types of foods and survive refrigeration, is a bacteria found in water, soil and animal feces. An infection caused by ingesting listeria is especially dangerous for people age 65 or older, immunocompromised or pregnant women.

The CDC confirmed that one of those affected by the recent outbreak was a pregnant mother, resulting in a fetal loss.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is also likely higher than the number reported,” the CDC said. “This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for listeria.”

The food recalls, which started in June, affected dozens of products, including pasta salads and heat-and-eat dishes such as scampi linguini bowls, trays of alfredo and meatballs and marinara. In addition to Trader Joe’s, they more sold at popular nationwide chains including Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Sprouts Farmers Market and Giant Eagle.

Products such as Trader Joe’s Cajun-Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettucine Alfredo, smoked mozzarella pasta salad sold at Sprouts Farmers Market and Giant Eagle, and Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs and Marinara have been removed from the stores’ shelves.

“Nate’s Fine Foods, Inc., does not sell affected products direct to retail. The firm is working with the FDA and their customers to determine if additional recalls are needed,” the FDA said about the Roseville, Calif.-headquartered food supplier.

In a statement on Sep. 29, Nate’s Fine Foods said that it was “committed to the highest standards of food safety,” and that it was working with government agencies and state health officials to “fully investigate the source.”

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