Photo: USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
A listeria outbreak linked to precooked pasta meals has resulted in six deaths and 25 hospitalizations across the United States. The outbreak, first announced in June, has prompted a series of recalls involving ready-to-eat pasta meals supplied by Nate's Fine Foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is actively investigating the multistate outbreak.
As of last week, the FDA reported that 27 individuals from 18 states have fallen ill due to the outbreak. The states affected include California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Tragically, the outbreak has also led to one pregnancy-associated illness resulting in fetal loss.
The FDA has advised consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for any recalled pasta products and to refrain from consuming them. Listeriosis, the infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, can be particularly dangerous for older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Symptoms of the infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms.
Nate's Fine Foods expanded its recall in September after a sample of linguine pasta tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company is working with the FDA and its customers to determine if further recalls are necessary. The FDA continues to collaborate with recalling firms and their direct customers to assess if additional downstream customer recalls are needed.
The CDC emphasizes the importance of vigilance in preventing further illnesses and advises those at higher risk to avoid potentially contaminated foods. Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., with an estimated 1,250 infections and 172 deaths annually.