6 Now Dead, More Ill In Widespread Listeria Outbreak: What To Know In NJ

An ongoing Listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at nationwide retailers in several states, including New Jersey, has now killed six people and sickened dozens more, according to federal health officials.

In September, federal health officials issued a warning to shoppers about ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's. Officials said these meals may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and linked to a previous outbreak.

Now, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is reporting that the outbreak has led to six deaths and 25 hospitalizations in 18 states.

In total, 27 cases have been identified, per the CDC, including a pregnancy-associated illness that resulted in fetal loss. Deaths linked to the outbreak have been reported in Illinois, Hawaii, Michigan, Oregon, Texas and Utah.

As Patch previously reported, among the items recalled in September due to the Listeria outbreak are Trader Joe’s “Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo” and Walmart’s “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce.”

The “Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo” products come in 16-oz. plastic tray packages with “best if used by” dates of Sept. 20, 2025, Sept. 24, 2025, or Sept. 27, 2025, printed on the front label of their packaging. The products also have the establishment number “P-45288” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

For the “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce” products, the 12 oz. clear plastic tray packages have “best if used by” dates of Sept. 22, 2025, Sept. 24, 2025, Sept. 25, 2025, Sept. 29, 2025, Sept. 30, 2025, and Oct. 1, 2025.

The product also has the establishment number “EST. 50784” or “EST. 47718” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Recently, health officials also added two more items to the recall list. One of the products is a smoked mozzarella pasta salad with use-by dates from Oct. 10, 2025, through Oct. 29, 2025. The salads were sold at Sprouts Farmers Market, which has five locations in New Jersey, including Marlton, Haddon Township, Aberdeen, Woodbury and Woodbridge.

The other product is Scott & Jon’s shrimp scampi with linguini bowl that contained an ingredient recalled by Nate's Fine Foods, which has use-by dates in March 2027.

“To date, no government agency has found any evidence of the specific Listeria monocytogenes strain identified in the outbreak in its thorough testing at Nate’s Fine Foods’ facility or in products under its jurisdiction," the company said in an online statement.

"Since our voluntary and limited recall of select products began, the FDA has conducted extensive testing at our facility — collecting several hundred environmental samples in addition to product testing," the statement continued. "All results have come back negative for the specific strain identified in the outbreak."

According to the FDA, a voluntary recall of select Scott & Jon's Shrimp Scampi with Linguini was initiated in October because the products contain a recalled linguini pasta ingredient supplied by Nate's Fine Foods, which was recalled for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

On Sept. 30, the FDA said Nate's Fine Foods Inc. expanded its recall of certain lots of pre-cooked pasta after a sample of linguine pasta collected and tested by FreshRealm tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

Nate's Fine Foods, Inc. does not sell affected products direct to retail, the FDA alert said. The firm has been working with the FDA and its customers to determine if additional recalls are needed.

"Nate’s Fine Foods remains fully committed to consumer safety and to cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other public health agencies as their investigation into the source of a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes continues," the company statement said.

"We remain focused on maintaining the highest standards of food safety. This commitment is reflected in the strong safety record we have achieved since opening our doors more than 13 years ago," the statement continued. "We are deeply concerned for those affected by this outbreak and continue to work closely and transparently with regulators. Nate’s Fine Foods sincerely appreciates the continued trust and support of our customers and partners."

Customers who have purchased recalled products are urged not to eat them and to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Eating food contaminated with Listeria can cause Listeriosis, officials said, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, health officials said. Serious and sometimes fatal infections can also occur in older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics, though health officials said people in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

To learn more, you can view the public health alert here and the CDC’s food safety alert here.

Previous Coverage

• Deadly Listeria Outbreak Linked To NJ Walmart, Trader Joe’s Products
• Another Product Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak Has Been Recalled

Editor's Note: This article was updated with a statement from Nate's Fine Foods posted on Tuesday, Nov. 4.