Nearly 245,000 pounds of pasta recalled after deadly listeria outbreak

Thousands of ready-to-eat pasta products have been recalled in connection with an ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has killed four people and affected major retailers including Walmart, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s.An October 9 notice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed thousands of pre-cooked pasta products made by Nate’s Fine Foods as being linked to the outbreak. The items were later distributed to makers of ready-to-eat meals.According to the FDA, FreshRealm, a distributor from which multiple foods have now been recalled, along with the FDA and other partnering agencies, found that Nate’s products tested positive for the outbreak strain of listeria.

Initial recall and USDA notice

Nate’s Fine Foods first initiated a voluntary recall of 245,000 pounds of pre-cooked pasta on September 25, citing potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. A notice shared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at the time linked the pasta to ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s.As health agencies continue to investigate, more grocery chains are issuing recalls of specific products, such as Sprouts’ new October 8 recall of ready-to-eat Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad.

15-state outbreak since June

The recalls are part of a 15-state outbreak first announced in June. As of September 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 20 confirmed cases of listeria poisoning linked to the outbreak. At least four people have died, and nearly two dozen were hospitalized. In one case, a pregnant woman experienced fetal loss as a result of a related infection.

Nate’s fine foods recalled items

Impacted Nate’s Fine Foods pasta products were distributed to California, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas, according to the FDA.

Cooked Linguine Pasta: 972 cases (29,160 lbs) of 6 x 5 lb packages with lot code 2372521 and use-by date 8/25/2026Map Cooked Fettuccine Pasta: 1,357 cases (40,710 lbs) of 6 x 5 lb pouches with lot codes 2372522, 2432521, 2512521, and 2572522, and use-by dates 10/9/2025, 10/15/2025, 10/23/2025, 10/29/2025Fresh Creative Foods Cooked Farfalle Pasta: 1,442 cases (34,068 lbs) of 8 x 3 lb pouches with lot codes 2372523, 2432522, 2512522, and 2572523, and use-by dates 10/9/2025, 10/15/2025, 10/23/2025, 10/29/2025Fresh Creative Foods Cooked Penne Pasta: 1,337 cases (32,088 lbs) of 8 x 3 lb pouches with lot codes 2382521, 2452521, 2572524, and 2512523, and use-by dates 10/10/2025, 10/17/2025, 10/23/2025, 10/29/2025Cooked Linguine Pasta: 52 totes (73,050 lbs) of 5 lb pouches with lot codes 2452523 and 2592521, and use-by dates 10/17/2025 and 10/31/2025Taylor Farms Cooked Rotini MAP: 383 cases (9,192 lbs) of 8 x 3 lb pouches with lot code 2532526 and use-by date 10/10/2025Taylor Farms Cooked Farfalle MAP: 261 cases (6,264 lbs) of 8 x 3 lb pouches with lot code 2532525 and use-by date 10/10/2025Taylor Farms Cooked Trotolle MAP: 846 cases (18,612 lbs) of 8 x 2.75 lb pouches with lot codes 2532521 and 2472524, and use-by dates 10/10/2025 and 10/04/2025Cooked Fettuccine Pasta: 56 cases (1,680 lbs) of 6 x 5 lb pouches with lot code 2572521 and use-by date 9/14/2026