The FDA has declared that a deadly outbreak traced to pasta meals has ended.
The outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes sickened 28 people from 19 states, killing seven. All but one of the patients required hospitalization. One infection in a pregnant woman resulted in a fetal loss. The outbreak patients ranged in from 4 to 92 years old.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first announced the outbreak on June 18, 2025, but investigators found that the first patient in the outbreak became ill in August 2024.
“Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that prepared meals containing pasta are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are making people sick,” according to one of the CDC's outbreak updates.
Initially pasta meals sold at Walmart and Kroger stores were recalled. But then, in September 2025, there was a flurry of new pasta recalls – all related to the June announcements.
By October, the stores whose pasta products were affected had expanded to Trader Joe’s, Albertsons, Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Giant Eagle, King Soopers, Payless, Ralph and Smith’s, Scott & Jon’s and Sprout’s.
After the three products recalled initially, 15 additional types of ready-made pasta products were affected.
The meals were produced by Nate’s Fine Foods, which produces food under a variety of brand names.
Throughout the outbreak investigation, FDA collaborated with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service because some of the recalled products included meat, which is under the jurisdiction of the sub-agency.
