Deadly Listeria Outbreak Prompts Pasta Product Recalls In California

Concerns continued Monday about Listeria contamination linked to certain pasta products. Nineteen hospitalizations and four deaths have been linked to the nationwide outbreak that began mid-year, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration data updated on Sept. 11.

Food safety officials and grocers in California — including Albertsons, Andronico's Community Markets, Pak 'N Save, Pavilions, Safeway, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Vons, and Walmart — are scrambling to take precautions.

Albertsons Companies issued a voluntary recall on Saturday for five store-made deli pasta items due to possible Listeria contamination.

Albertsons said it was pulling deli items containing bowtie pasta supplied by Fresh Creative Foods. The pasta contains an ingredient manufactured by Roseville, Calif.-based Nate’s Fine Foods that has possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the grocery giant.

The Nate's Fine Foods website shows the company specializes in cooked pasta, grains, potatoes and legumes for food service and manufacturing applications.

Affected products sold at Albertsons and affiliated California grocers include:

• Ready Meals Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad available at Albertsons, Pavilions, Safeway, and Vons between Sept. 8-26
• Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad available at Albertsons, Pavilions, Safeway, and Vons between Sept 8-26
• Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad available at Safeway, Andronico's Community Markets, Vons, and Pak 'N Save between Sept. 11-29.

Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Beaverton, Oregon-based Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., previously initiated a recall, according to Albertsons.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. 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.

"Consumers who have purchased these items are urged not to consume these products and to dispose of them or return the items to their local store for a full refund," according to Albertsons.

Consumers with questions should contact Albertsons Companies’ Customer Service Center at 877-723-3929 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST.

There have been no reports of injuries or adverse reactions associated with the consumption of the deli items, Albertsons said. Anyone who might become sick should contact a doctor.

Walmart, Trader Joe's Affected Products

Federal health officials warned last week that certain ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s may also be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

In a public health alert updated on Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety & Inspection Service reported that Trader Joe’s “Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo” is subject to its Listeria warning.

The 16-oz. plastic tray packages have “best if used by” dates of Sept. 20, 2025, Sept. 24, 2025, or Sept. 27, 2025, printed on the front label of their packaging, and have the establishment number “P-45288” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

In addition to the Trader Joe’s product, federal health officials also included Walmart’s “Marketside Linguine With Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce” in the warning.

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.

The USDA is directing consumers with questions regarding Friday's public health alert to contact Nate's Fine Foods at 916-677-7303. Patch reached out to the company and was waiting for a response.

The FDA recommends that anyone who purchased or received any recalled products use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and/or containers that came into contact with the contaminated food.

Listeria monocytogenes can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces, according to the FDA.