By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Premade chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals sold at Walmart and Kroger have been recalled amid a listeria outbreak that sickened 17 people and led to three deaths and one pregnancy loss.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the outbreak has affected people across 13 states. Illnesses were reported from August 2024 through May 2025, CNN said.
The recalled products were made by Texas-based FreshRealm. In March, the same strain of listeria was found during routine testing at a FreshRealm food facility.
FSIS is still looking into whether a specific ingredient in the Alfredo meals caused the outbreak.
Sold at Walmart under the Marketside brand and at Kroger under the Home Chef brand, the recalled products are:
32.8-ounce trays of “Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” (best-by date of June 27 or earlier)
12.3-ounce trays of “Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” (best-by date of June 26 or earlier)
12.5-ounce trays of “Home Chef Heat & Eat Grilled Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and Parmesan cheese” (best-by date of June 19 or earlier)
These meals may have the establishment numbers Est. P-50784, Est. P-47770 or Est. P-47718 printed inside the USDA inspection mark.
The recall does not include other FreshRealm products, CNN said.
FSIS warned that people may still have these meals in their refrigerators or freezers. They should not be eaten. Customers are advised to throw them away or return them to the store.
Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous bacterium that can cause a serious infection called listeriosis.
Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, CNN reported.
For pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or serious illness in newborns. Listeriosis can also be life-threatening for older adults or people with weakened immune systems.
The illness is treated with antibiotics. Those at higher risk who feel sick within two months of eating contaminated food should see a doctor and mention possible listeria exposure, FSIS says.
Premade meals like these should always be heated to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before eating, CNN reported.
Using a food thermometer is the only way to be sure the food is hot enough to kill harmful germs like listeria.
More information
The Mayo Clinic has more on listeria.
SOURCE: CNN, June 18, 2025
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