Agencies Investigating Listeria Outbreak From Prepared Pasta Meals

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to prepared pasta meals that has sickened 20, hospitalized 19 and killed four. 

On Sept. 29, Albertsons announced a voluntary recall of select store-made deli items containing bowtie pasta. The items were available for purchase at the following stores: Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Amigos, Andronico's Community Markets, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Pak 'N Save, Pavilions, Market Street, Randalls, Safeway, Tom Thumb, United and Vons in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Product names and additional information can be found in the recall notice.

Albertsons expanded its recall on Oct. 1 to include penne pasta salads sold at Carrs-Safeway, Eagle and Safeway stores in Alaska.

On Oct. 1, Demers Food Group announced a voluntary recall of select Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls. The product was distributed nationally to wholesale distributors and operators between Sept. 15 and Sept. 25.

On Oct. 2, Kroger announced a voluntary recall of certain bowtie and penne pasta salads sold at the deli service counter and in grab-n-go packages from the deli department from Kroger stores located in Georgia; South Carolina; Auburn, Alabama; Greater Cincinnati (including Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio, plus South Eastern Indiana); Central and Northwest Ohio; Northwestern Virginia panhandle; Michigan; Indiana (except Southeast Indiana); Illinois; Eastern Missouri; Greater Louisville area (including Indiana) and Lexington, Kentucky; Hopkinsville and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama; Greater Memphis area, Tennessee; Arkansas; Mississippi; Western Kentucky; North Carolina; Virginia; Eastern West Virginia; Eastern Kentucky; Southeastern Ohio; Texas and Louisiana; and at Dillons, Baker's, Gerbes, King Soopers. City Market, Fry's, Fred Meyer, Ralphs and Smith's stores.

FDA said it will continue to collaborate with federal and local partners and implicated firms and will provide updates as they become available.