A listeria outbreak connected to recalled prepared pasta dishes has resulted in six deaths and multiple hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Public health officials, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), reported that 27 people across 18 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of listeria.
Listeria is a bacterium that can contaminate a variety of foods, the CDC notes. Symptoms may appear as soon as the same day or up to 10 weeks after consuming contaminated items.
Of the 26 patients with available data, 25 were hospitalized, and six deaths were confirmed in Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. One pregnancy-related illness tragically resulted in the loss of a baby.
Officials warn that the actual number of infections is likely higher because confirming a case can take up to four weeks, and some people recover without medical attention.
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In June, epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence identified FreshRealm’s chicken fettuccine alfredo meals as being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Following additional testing, ingredients and pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods, a Roseville, California–based ready-to-eat foods manufacturer, were also found to contain the bacteria. The company subsequently issued a voluntary recall of more than 245,000 pounds of prepared pasta dishes.
The CDC later confirmed that pasta ingredients from Nate’s Fine Foods tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. State and local health agencies continue to investigate what affected individuals consumed before falling ill. Consumers are advised to discard or return any recalled products immediately.
