Federal health officials have issued a warning regarding certain heat-and-eat beef meatball pasta meals sold at Walmart stores, as these products may be contaminated with listeria bacteria. The concern stems from a listeria outbreak that has already resulted in fatalities and illnesses linked to a previously recalled chicken fettuccine Alfredo.
The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) released a public health alert on Thursday for Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, which are packaged in 12-ounce clear plastic trays. The specific products in question carry best-by dates from September 22 to October 1 and could still be found in consumers' refrigerators.
Notably, the affected meals feature establishment numbers "EST. 50784" and "EST. 47718" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the packaging. These products were distributed to Walmart stores throughout the United States.
While no formal recall has been initiated, FreshRealm, the food producer responsible for distributing the affected meals, has advised Walmart to remove these products from store shelves. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service indicated that further products might be identified as potentially contaminated.
This alert follows a previous listeria outbreak linked to chicken fettuccine Alfredo sold in Walmart and Kroger stores, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals and illnesses in at least 17 others. The outbreak prompted a significant recall earlier in the summer.
FreshRealm conducted tests that discovered listeria in the linguine used in the beef meatball dish. According to the company, the strain of listeria found in the new products matches that identified in the earlier outbreak related to chicken fettuccine Alfredo.
In a statement, FreshRealm expressed its belief that the source of the listeria contamination likely originated from an ingredient supplied by a third-party vendor. The pasta was sourced from Nate's Fine Foods based in Roseville, California. Nate's Fine Foods did not respond immediately to inquiries regarding the situation.
Listeria infections pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women or their newborns. Symptoms of listeria infection may include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 1,600 people in the United States fall ill due to listeria infections each year, with around 260 of those cases resulting in death. Following several notable listeria outbreaks in recent years, including one associated with Boar's Head deli meats that led to over 60 illnesses and ten deaths, federal officials announced in December that they would be revising protocols to enhance prevention measures against listeria infections.
This latest public health alert highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding food safety, particularly regarding the prevention of listeria contamination in ready-to-eat meals. Consumers are urged to be vigilant and check their refrigerators for possibly contaminated products to ensure their safety and that of their families.
