The number of people who have died in a listeria outbreak linked to premade chicken pasta meals sold at Walmart and Kroger rose to four this week and a related health alert cautioned about a similar product from Trader Joe’s, according to the U.S. health and food safety agencies.
FreshRealm, a meal manufacturer, recalled its chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals, which were distributed nationwide to Kroger and Walmart, in June. The meals were sold under the brand names Marketside and Home Chef.
The latest alert, issued on Thursday by the federal Food Safety and Inspection Service, added Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettuccine Alfredo from Trader Joe’s and linguine with beef meatballs from Walmart to the list of frozen pasta meals that may be contaminated with the listeria bacteria linked to the outbreak.
A Walmart spokesperson said that the company had removed the product from its stores and was working with the supplier to investigate the possible contamination.
FreshRealm conducted tests that detected the outbreak strain in the linguine with beef meatballs product from Walmart. The source of the listeria was pasta supplied by a third party, a company spokesperson said. Trader Joe’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement in June, FreshRealm urged consumers who had purchased the products in the voluntary recall to destroy them or return them. It also said it remained “committed to the highest standards” of food safety while collaborating with an investigation looking into the source of the bacteria.
A total of 17 listeria cases tied to the outbreak were reported in 13 states as of June. Of those 17 people, 16 were hospitalized and three died.
Since then, three more cases, including a death, have been tied to the listeria outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Two of the new cases were in California and one was in Utah, bringing the outbreak to 15 states. The previous cases were in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
Of the 20 known listeria cases tied to the outbreak since August 2024, all but one person were hospitalized.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, described the two products that may be contaminated with the outbreak strain as:
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Sold at Walmart, 12-ounce tray packages of Marketside linguine with beef meatballs and marinara sauce, with a best-by date of Oct. 1, 2025, or earlier; and
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Sold at Trader Joe’s, 16-ounce tray packages of Trader Joe’s Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettuccine Alfredo, with a best-by date of Sept. 27, 2025, or earlier.
A public health alert is not a food recall but advises consumers of the potential health risks if the products are consumed. Public health officials urged people not to consume these meal packages, and to either throw away or return them.
Eating food contaminated with this strain of listeria could cause a serious infection that primarily affects people with weakened immune systems, older adults, pregnant women and their newborns, according to the C.D.C. Symptoms typically start within two weeks after eating contaminated food and include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck and confusion.
Health officials said the investigation into the outbreak was ongoing.
Ashley Ahn covers breaking news for The Times from New York.
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