Pasta In These Products Linked To Deadly Listeria Outbreak: Recall Roundup

More products containing pasta linked to a deadly listeria outbreak have been recalled, a car seat that toddlers can easily tear apart, and a popular car may catch fire while it’s parked, according to recent recall notices announced by federal officials.

Also, corn dogs and sausages-on-a-stick sold under the State Fair and Jimmy Dean brands were recalled after pieces of wood were found embedded in the batter.

Sources for this report are the Food and Drug Administration, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Patch reporting.

Pasta Dishes Recalled In Deadly Listeria Outbreak

Albertsons Companies is recalling five store-made deli products containing pasta linked to a deadly listeria outbreak health officials say has hospitalized 19 people and caused four deaths earlier this year, according to the FDA.

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

The pasta salads have sell-by dates that extend into early October. They were sold in 15 states — Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming — under various Albertsons Companies banners.

Stores include Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Amigos, Andronico’s Community Markets, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Pak ’N Save, Pavilions, Market Street, Randalls, Safeway, Tom Thumb and Vons.

In a public health alert last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service added Trader Joe’s “Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo” as a product subject to its listeria warning.

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. Read more about that on Patch.

Also, Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini frozen meals distributed nationally to wholesale distributors and operators between Sept. 15-25 have been recalled because it uses pasta supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods.

No other Scott & Jon’s products are affected. For more information, go to the FDA website.

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 to dispose of the salads or return them to their local store for a full refund. The FDA also recommends that people who may have purchased or received the pasta salads to be extra vigilant about cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria monocytogenes can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

Corn Dogs, Sausages May Contain Wood

Hillshire Brands Company has recalled about 58 million pounds of corn dog and sausage products sold nationwide under the State Fair and Jimmy Dean brands because they may contain pieces of wood, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Five people have been sickened so far by the products, the FSIS said. It is unknown in which states the people were sickened.

After receiving customer complaints, Hillshire investigated and “determined that the wooden sticks entered the production process prior to product battering,” the FSIS said.

The federal agency released a six-page complete list of the recalled products, which consists of the products' package sizes and types and use by or sell by dates. A 27-page file showing the food labels for these products was also released.

The FSIS said some of the recalled products may be in the refrigerators and freezers of customers and schools, and that they should be discarded. More information is found on the FSIS website.

Evenflo Recalls 324K Car Seats

Evenflo is voluntarily recalling more than 324,000 car seats after finding the foam material in the headrest could pose a potential choking hazard, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall involves certain Revolve360 Slim models. Children can reach behind the cushion, pick, and dislodge the foam from the headrest, it could pose a potential choking hazard if placed in the child’s mouth. The foam itself is non-toxic, the company said on its website.

The NHTSA said Evenflo is currently aware of 11 reports in which children accessed foam in the headrests in certain models “and placed it in either their mouth or nose.” The company also took a dozen reports in which children were able to pick off the foam, but did not ingest it, the report said.

Evenflo said on its website that the recall only involves Revolve360 Slim car seats sold in the U.S. and Canada with model numbers beginning with 3681.

BMW Issues ‘Park Outside’ Alert

BMW of North America is recalling more than 345,000 vehicles over fire risks in back-to-back recalls, and some cars should be parked outside until the problem can be fixed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

BMW of North America issued the “park outside recall” for 200,000 model year 2019-2022, citing a fire risk while parked or being driven due to engine corrosion.

“Owners should park outside and away from buildings and other vehicles until they either confirm their vehicle is not subject to the recall or have their vehicle remedied,” according to the notice.

The problem is with the engine starter relay, which corrode, causing the relay to overheat, short-circuit, and possibly start a fire.

BMW said it is conducting a “phased recall” based on parts availability. The company plans to notify owners by mail on Nov. 14, and a second notice will be sent as parts become available.

In a separate recall notice, BMW of North America is recalling more than 145,000 vehicles due to a fire risk from overheated starters. In some cases, the engine starter may not start the engine properly, which could cause it to overheat. Affected vehicles are X5, X6, X7, 2020 340I, 840I and 740 LI models.

“If the starter overheats, locally, during these starting situations, the engine acoustic protection material can be ignited if contaminated,” the NHTSA said. “In rare cases, this could lead to a thermal event while driving or shortly after parking, if the vehicle had a starting event shortly before being parked.”

Owners will be notified by mail and told to take their cars to an authorized dealer, where the engine starter will be replaced with a new one with a different design.

Kia Recalls 39,500 Cars Due To Fire Risk

Kia America is recalling more than 39,500 vehicles sold in the United States because they have faulty HVAC systems that could cause a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Only 1 percent of certain 2021-2023 model year Sorento vehicles may have the defect, according to Kia, which said a parts supplier in Mexico used unusually thin-gauge wiring in some instances, which could cause the HVAC system to overheat and possibly cause a fire.

Warning signs drivers should be aware of include an inoperable blower motor in the HVAC system, a burning or melting smell, or smoke pouring through the vents, Kia said.

A different HVAC system was installed in 2024 Sorento vehicles, which are not subject to the recall, according to Kia.

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