CDC expands pasta recall after 6 deaths: What parents need to know

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded a nationwide recall of several ready-to-eat pasta meals contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. For parents, especially those who are pregnant or caring for young children, this update serves as an important reminder that even everyday foods can sometimes carry hidden risks.

According to the CDC, 27 illnesses, 25 hospitalizations, and six deaths have now been reported across 18 states in connection with the outbreak. The illnesses have been traced back to products made by Nate’s Fine Foods, Inc., a California-based supplier whose prepared pasta meals were sold under various labels at major retailers including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Kroger, Giant Eagle, and Market District.

Most of the affected items are past their best-by dates, but Scott & Jon’s shrimp scampi with linguini bowls, which carry use-by dates through March 2027, may still be in home freezers. The CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue to track reports of illness to determine whether any additional products are involved.

Related: Popular high chair recalled after reports of deadly safety hazards—here’s what parents need to know

Why Listeria poses serious risks for families

Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can cause serious infection, especially in pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems.

While some healthy adults may only experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, infection during pregnancy can be far more serious, potentially leading to pregnancy loss, premature birth, or life-threatening illness in newborns, according to the CDC.

Listeria spreads easily and can survive even in cold environments like the refrigerator. That’s why a contaminated product can continue to pose risks long after it’s been stored away.

What parents should do right now

The CDC advises families to take a few simple steps to protect their homes and health:

• Check your fridge and freezer for any recalled pasta meals, especially those listed on the FDA’s recall page.
• Throw away or return affected products immediately.
• Clean and sanitize any surfaces, containers, or utensils that may have touched the recalled food. Because Listeria can survive refrigeration, a thorough wash with hot, soapy water followed by a disinfectant is recommended.
• If you’re unsure whether a meal was part of the recall, it’s safest to discard it.

When to call your doctor

Symptoms of Listeria infection can appear anywhere from the same day up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. According to the CDC, mild symptoms include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, or stomach upset. In more severe cases, people may experience stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions.

Pregnant people should contact their healthcare provider right away if they develop any flu-like symptoms after eating a recalled or possibly contaminated food. Early testing and treatment can help prevent complications.

Related: 6 million eggs recalled across 6 states after salmonella detected at Arkansas facility

Staying informed without panic

For ongoing updates, parents can check the CDC’s Listeria outbreak page or the FDA’s official recall list.

While recalls like this one can feel alarming, they’re also a sign that food safety monitoring is working as it should, identifying problems quickly and alerting families before more people get sick. Staying aware, not anxious, is what helps protect households best.

Pregnancy and parenthood already come with enough unknowns. Staying alert to recalls like this one helps families protect what matters most—with information, not fear.

Source: 

1. CDC. 2025. “Investigation Update: Prepared Meals Outbreak, October 2025.”
2. Nate’s Fine Foods. “Press Statement – Nate’s Fine Foods.”
3.  U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2025. “Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Prepared Pasta Meals (June 2025).”
4. CDC. 2024. “About Listeria Infection.”
5. FDA. “Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts.”

source https://www.mother.ly/news/cdc-pasta-recall-2025/