USDA issues health alert after contaminated products found. Federal health officials have issued a public health alert after ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart Meal tested positive for Listeria outbreak monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed that Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce may be contaminated and linked to a deadly listeria outbreak in the United States.
The affected meals were packaged in 12-ounce clear plastic trays with best-by dates ranging from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1, 2025. Each package displays establishment numbers “EST. 50784” and “EST. 47718” inside the USDA inspection mark.
Walmart Meal has removed the products from stores nationwide. Consumers who purchased the meals are urged to check their refrigerators and discard any affected items immediately.
FreshRealm investigation underway
The meals were produced by FreshRealm, which instructed Walmart Meal to pull the products following test results. Laboratory analysis traced the contamination to the linguine component, supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, Calif. FreshRealm confirmed that the strain detected in the pasta matches one responsible for a recent outbreak tied to chicken fettuccine Alfredo sold at Walmart and Kroger. That incident led to four deaths and 19 hospitalizations across 15 states.
“FreshRealm has taken immediate steps to remove the affected meals from store shelves and continues to investigate the source of the contamination,” the company said in a statement.
FSIS cautioned that additional products could be affected and advised consumers to avoid eating any meals that match the description. While no formal recall has been announced, the agency emphasized the importance of discarding potentially contaminated food.
Connection to previous outbreaks
The Walmart outbreak follows several high-profile listeria outbreak cases in recent years. In 2024, a listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats resulted in 10 deaths and 60 hospitalizations across 19 states. Public health experts note that ready-to-eat refrigerated foods remain vulnerable to contamination despite enhanced safety monitoring.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that listeria causes about 1,600 infections and 260 deaths annually in the country. Unlike many foodborne pathogens, listeria outbreak can grow at refrigerator temperatures, which makes chilled packaged meals a recurring concern for regulators and food producers.
Who is most at risk?
listeria outbreak infections pose the greatest threat to pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, headache, and confusion. Severe cases can lead to seizures, loss of balance, and death.
Health officials advise anyone who experiences symptoms after eating the affected products to seek medical attention promptly.
Industry response and prevention
Federal agencies and food manufacturers have been under pressure to improve detection and response protocols following repeated outbreaks. FSIS has expanded testing and monitoring of ready-to-eat meals, while companies such as FreshRealm have increased supplier audits and ingredient tracking.
Food safety experts say that recent listeria outbreak highlight ongoing challenges in preventing contamination in widely distributed, refrigerated products. The combination of large-scale production and the ability of listeria to survive in cold storage makes prevention complex.
Consumer guidance
Consumers are advised to check for Walmart Meal Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce bearing best-by dates from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1, 2025, and codes EST. 50784 or EST. 47718. Any affected meals should be discarded immediately.
The FSIS said that keeping contaminated products out of the food supply chain is critical to preventing further illnesses.
“These recent incidents reinforce the importance of strict food safety practices across the ready-to-eat sector,” FSIS said. “Consumers play an essential role by checking labels and disposing of potentially unsafe products.”
Also Read :- Listeria Outbreak Tied to Ready-to-Eat Foods Prompts Recall Across Four U.S. States
