Karmactive Staff
Federal health officials have issued an urgent public health alert warning consumers about ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s that may be contaminated with deadly listeria bacteria.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) first alerted consumers on Thursday about Walmart’s Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, then expanded the warning Friday to include Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo.
Both products are linked to a deadly listeria outbreak that has already claimed four lives and sickened at least 20 people.
FreshRealm, the distributor of the affected products, detected listeria in the linguine used in the Walmart meatball dish during testing. The company stated that “the source of the listeria was likely an ingredient supplied by a third party.” The pasta came from Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California, and further testing is underway to confirm if it matches the specific outbreak strain.
The affected Walmart products are 12-ounce clear plastic trays of Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce with best-by dates ranging from September 22 to October 1, 2025. These packages bear establishment numbers “EST. 50784” or “EST. 47718” inside the USDA inspection mark.
The Trader Joe’s items are 16-ounce plastic trays labeled Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo with best-by dates of September 20, 24, and 27, 2025, bearing establishment number “P-45288.”
Though no formal recall has been issued, Walmart has removed the products and is offering refunds. A Walmart spokesperson said, “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority. We have removed this product from our impacted stores.”
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Listeria poses serious health risks, particularly for older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. The CDC reports that about 1,600 people get sick from listeria annually, with approximately 260 deaths.
Health officials stress that consumers should check their refrigerators and freezers for these products. Anyone who purchased the affected items should not eat them but instead discard them or return them to the store. FSIS warns that additional products may be identified as testing continues.
This alert follows a series of high-profile listeria outbreaks, including one linked to Boar’s Head deli meats last year that caused 10 deaths. In December, federal officials announced they were revamping protocols to improve listeria prevention after these incidents.
Consumers with questions can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854.
For additional information about recent contamination issues, consumers can also check the FDA’s recall database or visit their local store’s website for updates on affected products.
