Warnings for Trader Joe's and Walmart meals after 4 killed by listeria contamination

"Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain heat-and-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria linked to a deadly outbreak. The U.S. Agriculture Department updated a public health alert Friday that now includes these products: Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettucine Alfredo sold in 16-ounce plastic trays. The products have best-by dates of Sept. 20, Sept. 24 and Sept. 27."

"Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce sold at Walmart in refrigerated 12-ounce clear plastic trays. Those products have best-by dates of Sept. 22 through Oct. 1. The affected meals contain the establishment numbers EST. 50784 and EST. 47718 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the label. They were sent to Walmart stores nationwide. Additional products may be identified, according to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service."

"No recall has been issued, but FreshRealm, a large food producer that distributed the products, said it advised Walmart this week to pull the meals from store shelves. Walmart officials said they put a stop on sales and removed the products from stores. The meals may be contaminated with the same strain of listeria that caused an outbreak tied to chicken fettuccine Alfredo sold at Walmart and Kroger stores. Four people have been killed killed and at least 20 sickened as of Sept. 26."

The U.S. Agriculture Department updated a public health alert for specific heat-and-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe's due to potential listeria contamination. Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettucine Alfredo in 16-ounce trays (best-by Sept. 20, 24, 27; P- 45288) and Walmart's Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce in 12-ounce trays (best-by Sept. 22–Oct. 1; EST. 50784 and EST. 47718) are included. FreshRealm advised Walmart to pull the meals and Walmart removed them from stores. Tests detected the outbreak strain in linguine, four people have died and at least 20 have been sickened. The pasta came from Nate's Fine Foods of Roseville, California, and additional products may be identified.

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