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The death toll has risen in a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat pasta products from Nate’s Fine Foods sold at stores like Walmart, Kroger and Trader Joe’s. On Oct. 30, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an update regarding the agencies investigation into the outbreak, which began in June. Since the last CDC case count update on Sept. 25, a total of 7 new illnesses from three states have been reported, with two additional deaths. The agencies said that there’s been a total of 27 confirmed listeria infections across 18 states, resulting in 25 hospitalizations, six deaths and one fetal loss. The deaths occurred in Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Texas and Utah. These numbers are only the known cases and likely do not represent the total number of sick people, according to the CDC. This investigation has prompted several retailers, including Albertsons, Kroger, Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Sprouts to roll out recalls for impacted products, while urging customers to check their fridges and freezers. Listeria “can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems,” according to the FDA. “Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.” Customers are told by the CDC to not eat the recalled foods and clean out their refrigerators, containers and surfaces that may have touched the affected foods. This is because listeria can survive in these areas and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces. Nate’s Fine Foods said on its website Sept. 29 that it was voluntarily recalling select products after being notified about the potential link to a multistage outbreak of listeria. “Nate’s Fine Foods sincerely apologizes for the concern this may cause,” the company wrote. “We remain fully committed to transparency and to taking every necessary step to protect the health and trust of our consumers.” Albertsons Several pasta salads made by Albertsons were also recalled. The CDC urges customers to throw out the following pre-cooked meals: “Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 27133000000 and “Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 29492100000 and sell-by dates of Sept. 13 through Sept. 29 of this year were sold at Albertsons and Safeway stores in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming. “Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 27133000000 and “Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 29492100000 and the sell-by dates of Sept. 8 through Sept. 26 of this year were sold at Albertsons, Pavilions, Safeway and Vons stores in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. “Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 27133000000 and “Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 29492100000 and sell-by dates of Sept. 20 through Sept. 29 of this year were sold at Albertsons, Randalls and Tom Thumb stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. “Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 21649200000 and sell-by dates of Sept. 11 through Sept. 29 of this year was sold at Safeway, Andronico’s Community Markets, Vons and Pak ‘N Save stores in California, Hawaii and Nevada. “Grilled Chicken & Basil Pasta Extra Large” with the UPC 21303500000 and “Ready Meals Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad” with the UPC 29130800000 and with sell-by dates of Sept. 18 through Sept. 29 of this year were sold at Carrs-Safeway, Eagle and Safeway stores in Alaska. “Ready Meals Spinach Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 21142600000 and sell-by dates Sept. 16 through Sept. 26 of this year, and “Ready Meals Basil Bowtie Pasta Salad” with the UPC 21191300000 and sell-by dates Sept. 16 through Sept. 29 of this year, were both sold at United, Amigos, Market Street and Albertsons Market stores in New Mexico and Texas. Kroger Kroger issued a recall for its Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad made by Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California. The items were sold between Sept. 6 and Oct. 2 at the deli counter and through grab-and-go packages at Kroger, Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, King Soopers, Payless, Ralphs and Smith’s. They were sold in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and West Virginia. Sprouts The grocery store chain is recalling select lots of “Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad” sold from the deli service counter or the Grab & Go section. Affected lots of Sprouts Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad were packaged in plastic containers and sold from the Grab & Go section or packed directly from the deli service counter. Grab & Go UPC for the product sold is: UPC 2-15786-00000 Product use by dates from Oct. 10 through Oct. 29 Service Case: UPC for the product sold is: UPC 2-15587-00000 Product use by dates from Oct. 10 through Oct. 29 The product was distributed to Sprouts stores in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. Trader Joe’s One of the products is for “Trader Joe’s Cajun style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo,” which was sold in 16-ounce tray packages with a best-by date for this year on Sept. 20, Sept. 24 and Sept. 27. The meals were sold at stores in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. No positive Listeria tests for the product and zero reports of illness associated with the production codes have been made, Trader Joe’s said on its website. “We are issuing this guidance in an abundance of caution because testing of another brand with a shared ingredient source indicated this product may have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” the company wrote. Walmart Another product affected by this recall is “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce,” which was shipped to Walmart locations nationwide. Although these meals are no longer available for sale, they could be in customers’ fridges or freezers, the CDC said. The products were sold in 12-ounce clear plastic tray packages with best-by dates of Sept. 22 through Oct. 1. “Walmart and Sam’s Club are committed to the health and safety of our customers and members and to providing products that are safe and compliant, all supported by our health and wellness, product safety and food safety professionals,“ the company wrote on its website. ”In the event of a product recall, we work swiftly to block the item from being sold and remove it from our stores and clubs."
