Major Recall of Ready-to-Eat Pasta Meals Due to Listeria Concerns

Demers Good Group, the US distributor of the frozen seafood meal brand Scott & Jon’s, has joined forces with major retailers such as Trader Joe’s and Walmart to announce a recall of certain ready-to-eat meals. These products contain pre-cooked pasta that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Background of the Recall

On September 29, Nate’s Fine Foods, a pasta supplier based in Roseville, California, released a statement regarding a voluntary recall of select products. This action was taken after the company was informed of a possible link to a multistate Listeria outbreak. The company referenced a recall notice issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on September 25. This notice highlighted specific products, including the Marketside brand’s linguine with beef meatballs and marinara sauce available at Walmart, as well as a private label Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo sold by Trader Joe’s.

Expansion of the Recall

As the week progressed, the recall expanded further. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) included certain Scott & Jon’s shrimp scampi with linguine products to the list of potentially affected items. These products were distributed to wholesale distributors and operators between September 15 and September 25.

Demers Food Group clarified in its recall notice that no other Scott & Jon’s products are implicated, and to date, there have been no reported illnesses linked to this specific recall.

Connection to Ongoing FDA Investigation

The FDA has been conducting an investigation into a lethal Listeria outbreak since June, which has resulted in 17 reported illness cases across 13 states. Among those affected, 16 individuals were hospitalized, and three deaths have been officially attributed to the outbreak strain. Additionally, one pregnancy-related illness led to fetal loss.

Initially, the FDA identified the outbreak strain with FreshRealm’s pre-made chicken alfredo consumer products, which were sold in stores like Kroger, Walmart, and under the Marketside and Home Chef brands. The situation did not see significant updates until September 26, when the USDA FSIS issued alerts for the products sold at Trader Joe’s and Walmart.

Current Status of the Outbreak

As of October 2, the FDA reported that a total of 20 individuals have been infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria linked to pre-cooked meals. Out of these 20 cases, a staggering 19 required hospitalization, with four reported fatalities associated with the outbreak.

Conclusion

Consumers are urged to check their freezers for any implicated products and to exercise caution. The situation is dynamic, and updates may continue to be issued as more information becomes available regarding this serious health concern.