Recall alert: Walmart meals containing pasta may be contaminated with listeria
Federal food safety officials warned consumers Wednesday not to eat ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart stores nationwide after testing revealed contamination with dangerous listeria bacteria.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert September 25 for 12-ounce packages of "Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce." The affected products have "best if used by" dates from September 22 to October 1, 2025, and bear establishment numbers "EST. 50784" or "EST. 47718" inside the USDA inspection mark.
The contamination was discovered after the producing company tested samples of pre-cooked pasta used in the meals. Laboratory results confirmed the linguine pasta tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious illness.
FSIS officials are investigating whether the contaminated strain is connected to an ongoing outbreak linked to chicken fettuccine alfredo meals. The agency is working with the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health officials as the investigation continues.
Consumers who purchased these products should not eat them and instead throw them away or return them to the store. Some contaminated items may still be in household refrigerators or freezers.
Listeriosis can be particularly dangerous for older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and people with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Gastrointestinal symptoms may occur first. Pregnant women face additional risks including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns.
Anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms within two months of eating potentially contaminated food should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about possible exposure. The infection can be treated with antibiotics.
Consumers with questions about the alert can contact Nate's Fine Foods at 916-677-7303, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST. Food safety questions can be directed to the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or by email at MPHotline@usda.gov.
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Generative AI was used to organize and structure this story, based on data provided by the product recall notice. It was reviewed and edited by MassLive.
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