USDA Issues Health Alert for Frozen and Ready-To-Eat Meals Linked to Deadly Listeria Outbreak

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for ready-to-eat meals that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The alert comes as part of an ongoing investigation into a Listeria outbreak, originally announced in June, which has caused 20 illnesses to date, including 19 hospitalizations and four deaths.

The FSIS updated its health alert on Sept. 26 to include two new products: “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce” and “Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo.”

As of Sept. 29, Albertsons has also now voluntarily recalled store-made deli items supplied by Fresh Creative Foods due to potential contamination. The recall stems from a contaminated pasta manufactured by Nate’s Fine Foods in Roseville, California.

While the original investigation centered on chicken Alfredo meals sold at Kroger and Walmart, one of the companies involved later tested additional pasta samples and confirmed they contained Listeria.

How To Identify the Affected Frozen Meals

Though the products are no longer being sold, FSIS is concerned that consumers may still have them in their refrigerators or freezers. Here’s what to look for:

Affected Products From Walmart 

• 12-ounce clear plastic tray packages labeled “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce”
• “Best if used by” dates Sept. 22, 2025, Sept. 24, 2025, Sept. 25, 2025, Sept. 29, 2025, Sept. 30, 2025, and Oct. 01, 2025.
• Establishment numbers “EST. 50784” or “EST. 47718” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• Shipped to Walmart locations nationwide.

View labels here.

Affected Products From Trader Joe’s

• 16-ounce plastic tray packages labeled “Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo”
• “Best if used by” dates Sept. 20, 2025, Sept. 24, 2025, or Sept. 27, 2025, printed on the front label of the packaging.
• Establishment number “P-45288” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
• Sold at Trader Joe’s stores in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah.

View labels here.

Affected Products From Albertsons

• Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 27133000000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 13, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025
• Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 29492100000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 13, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025
• Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 27133000000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 8, 2025 to Sept. 26, 2025
• Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 29492100000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 8, 2025 to Sept. 26, 2025
• Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad, UPC 27133000000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 20, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025
• Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 29492100000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 20, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025
• Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 21649200000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 11, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025
• Grilled Chicken & Basil Pasta Extra Large: UPC 21303500000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 18, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025
• Ready Meals Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad: UPC 29130800000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 18, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025
• Ready Meals Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 21142600000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 16, 2025 to Sept. 26, 2025
• Ready Meals Basil Bowtie Pasta Salad: UPC 21191300000, “Sell-Thru” Sept. 16, 2025 to Sept. 29, 2025

The select store-made deli items were available for purchase at the following stores: Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Amigos, Andronico’s Community Markets, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Pak ‘N Save, Pavilions, Market Street, Randalls, Safeway, Tom Thumb, and Vons in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, United, Utah and Wyoming.

View labels here.

What To Do if You Have the Affected Products

Anyone who has purchased these products is urged not to consume them. They should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. The CDC recommends cleaning any surfaces that may have touched the affected foods.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and more, and is sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. It is especially harmful to pregnant individuals, the elderly, and those who have weakened immune systems. Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you experience these symptoms after consuming the affected foods.

Questions regarding the public health alert can be directed to Nate’s Fine Foods at 916-677-7303 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST Monday through Friday. Additionally, consumers can follow the CDC’s investigation into this deadly outbreak on its website.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include new recall information as part of the ongoing investigation into a listeria outbreak linked to prepared meals.