Ready-to-Eat Chicken and Pasta Meals Sold at Kroger and Walmart Tied to 3 Deaths

Maddy

2 days ago

Ready-to-Eat Chicken and Pasta Meals Sold at Kroger and Walmart Tied to 3 Deaths

An ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak tied to ready-to-eat chicken fettuccine alfredo has led to three deaths and one fetal loss, according to an announcement from the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The outbreak has sickened at least 17 people in 13 states.

The potentially “adulterated” ready-to-eat meals were produced by Freshrealm and sold in Walmart and Kroger stores nationwide, FSIS said.

So far the FSIS investigation has not determined the particular ingredient responsible for the contamination.

Freshrealm is recalling the following products made before June 17, 2025:

32.8 oz. tray packages containing “Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo With Fettuccine Tender Pasta With Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/27/25 or prior
12.3 oz. tray packages containing “Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo With Fettuccine Tender Pasta With Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/26/25 or prior
12.5 oz. tray packages containing “Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo With Pasta, Grilled White Meat Chicken, and Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/19/25 or prior

The packaging for these items have the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection on the product label, as well as establishment numbers “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770,” or “EST. P-47718” printed on the side.

FSIS said it’s concerned some people may still have the recalled chicken fettuccine alfredo in the refrigerator or freezer. The agency is urging the public not to eat the recalled meals, and to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

Listeria Can Cause Serious, Even Deadly, Infection

Eating food contaminated with L. monocytogenes, a type of bacteria, can lead to an infection known as listeriosis. Healthy children and adults get sick with listeriosis very rarely, and they seldom fall seriously ill. Typically these groups experience fever and diarrhea or other stomach problems within 24 hours of eating contaminated food, and the bug resolves on its own.

The condition almost exclusively affects adults over 60, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant people.

Listeriosis is called invasive if it spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. During pregnancy, invasive listeriosis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

In other high-risk groups, invasive listeriosis can cause serious illness or even death.

Invasive listeriosis can cause the following symptoms:

Fever
Muscle aches
Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion
Loss of balance
Seizures

Sometimes these symptoms occur after diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues.

If you’re in a high risk group and you experience flu-like symptoms within two months of eating potentially contaminated food, you should get medical care and explain your potential exposure.

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