Two more people have died and several others have been hospitalized in connection with a listeria outbreak linked to recalled ready-to-eat pasta products from Nate's Fine Foods Inc, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nine prepared meal products sold in the refrigerated and frozen sections intended for microwaving have been recalled so far by multiple retailers, including Kroger, Walmart, Trader Joe's and Albertsons.
The CDC, along with the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, issued an updated public health alert on Thursday stating that seven more illnesses had been reported since its previous health alert on Sept. 25.
Two additional deaths were reported in Hawaii and Oregon, according to the CDC, bringing the total number of deaths to six, and the number of people hospitalized rose by six, bringing the total number of hospitalizations to 25.
"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 agency stated. "Double check your refrigerators and freezers for recalled food and do not eat them."
Twenty-seven illnesses total have been reported across 18 states since the outbreak began in August 2024, the CDC stated.
Six of the 25 hospitalizations occurred in the last two months, with the most recent onset of illness being reported Oct. 16, according to the CDC.
"The true number of sick people in this outbreak is also likely higher than the number reported. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria," the CDC stated.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted an update in tandem with the CDC on Thursday, adding more prepared pasta products to its list of affected items.
"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 stated.
"Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased this product are advised to contact their retailer," the FDA added.
The CDC has instructed the public to "double check your refrigerators and freezers for recalled food and do not eat them."
"Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the affected foods," the agency added. "Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces."
Of the additional foods recently recalled, some are now past their best by dates, the CDC stated.
The two latest products included in the FDA recall include Sprouts Farmers Market Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad with use-by dates of Oct. 10, 2025, through Oct. 29, 2025, and 9.6-ounce Scott & Jon's Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls with use-by dates in March 2027.
See the full list of recalled items below.
Each of the company's recall announcements can be found on the FDA's website.
Listeria is a bacteria that when ingested can cause an infection known as listeriosis, according to the CDC.
The condition is most dangerous for pregnant people, newborns, people with weakened immune systems and adults 65 or older, the agency said. For people who are pregnant, being infected by listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth.
According to the CDC, an estimated 1,250 people get listeriosis annually in the U.S. and about 172 people die from it.
