Deadly Fettuccine Outbreak: Listeria Contamination Detected in Walmart and Trader Joe’s Meals – What You Need to Know!

Federal health officials are raising alarms about certain heat-and-eat pasta dishes sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s. These meals may carry listeria bacteria linked to a recent outbreak that has been quite serious.

The U.S. Agriculture Department released a public health alert for Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo. This product comes in 16-ounce trays with best-by dates of September 20, 24, and 27. Check for the number P-45288 inside the USDA inspection mark on the packaging.

On the same day, they also issued a warning for Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce from Walmart. These come in 12-ounce clear trays, with best-by dates from September 22 to October 1. Look for establishment numbers EST. 50784 and EST. 47718 on the label.

While FreshRealm, the distributor of these meals, has advised Walmart to take them off the shelves, no official recall has been made yet. Walmart confirmed they have stopped sales and removed the products from stores.

The listeria strain found in these meals is the same one connected to an earlier outbreak involving chicken fettuccine Alfredo that resulted in four deaths and over 20 illnesses. This outbreak led to significant recalls this past summer.

FreshRealm identified the bacteria in the linguine used in the meatball dish and noted that it matched the strain from the previous outbreak. The company suspects that a third-party ingredient might be responsible for the contamination. The pasta was supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods in California.

Listeria is particularly dangerous for the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and confusion. According to the CDC, around 1,600 people in the U.S. fall ill from listeria each year, leading to approximately 260 deaths.

This situation reflects a broader issue in food safety. The CDC is working on improving protocols after recent high-profile outbreaks, including one last year linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, which resulted in ten deaths and over sixty illnesses.

It’s essential to stay informed about food safety alerts, as they can arise unexpectedly and might affect what’s in your own kitchen.

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