Overview

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified a multi-state Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to ready-to-eat pasta dishes manufactured by FreshRealm Inc., including chicken Alfredo products sold under store brands at Walmart, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s.

As of September 30, 2025, the outbreak has caused 20 confirmed infections, 19 hospitalizations, 4 deaths, and one pregnancy loss, affecting 15 states: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Illnesses began in August 2024 and persisted into September 2025, disproportionately impacting pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, who are at heightened risk for severe listeriosis. The contaminated products, produced by FreshRealm in Salina, Kansas, include 16-oz plastic tray packages with establishment number P-45288 inside the USDA mark of inspection. FreshRealm voluntarily recalled the affected items in June 2025 after routine testing detected the outbreak strain, but the FSIS issued a public health alert on September 26, 2025, urging consumers to discard or return the products due to shared ingredients with other recalled meals.

The alert emphasizes that Listeria can thrive in refrigerated conditions and spread to other foods, posing ongoing risks. Class action lawsuits are emerging, accusing FreshRealm of inadequate testing, supply chain failures, and delayed notifications, potentially entitling victims to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and emotional trauma [1].

The outbreak represents a critical lapse in food safety, with the CDC noting that underreporting likely inflates the actual case count. The tragic consequences, including fatalities and a pregnancy loss, highlight the vulnerability of high-risk groups and the need for accountability from FreshRealm, a supplier to major retailers. The products’ low cost ($5–$7 per tray) belies the profound health threats, potentially broadening liability to Walmart and Kroger for insufficient supplier vetting.

Affected Product Details

The recalls focus on:

  • FreshRealm Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (Private Label Brands): 16-oz plastic tray packages with establishment number P-45288 inside the USDA mark of inspection. Sold under store brands at Walmart (Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo, best-by dates September 22, 2025, to October 1, 2025), Kroger (Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, best-by June 19, 2025), and Trader Joe’s (Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo, best-by dates September 20, 2025, September 24, 2025, or September 27, 2025).

Consumers can identify the products by their grilled or blackened chicken in creamy Alfredo sauce with fettuccine pasta, packaged in clear plastic trays. The contamination stems from shared pasta ingredients, with FreshRealm’s Salina facility as the common source.

Hazards of Listeria-Contaminated Pasta Meals

Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meals presents acute dangers:

  • Listeriosis: Triggers fever, muscle pain, and digestive disturbances, escalating to meningitis or sepsis.
  • High-Risk Groups: Pregnant women face miscarriage or stillbirth; infants risk meningitis; older adults and immunocompromised individuals encounter life-threatening complications.
  • Symptom Latency: Manifestations emerge 1–4 weeks after exposure, hindering timely intervention.
  • Refrigeration Resistance: Listeria endures cold storage, facilitating spread to other foods or surfaces.

Listeriosis ranks as the third-deadliest foodborne illness, with a 20% mortality rate among vulnerable populations.

Symptoms of Listeria Infection from Contaminated Pasta

Those consuming the contaminated FreshRealm chicken Alfredo may develop:

  • Initial Indicators: Fever, chills, nausea, or muscle aches within 1–4 weeks.
  • Digestive Disturbances: Diarrhea, headaches, or neck stiffness signaling meningitis.
  • Critical Escalations: Seizures, confusion, or shock in progressed cases.
  • Maternal Complications: Flu-like symptoms resulting in miscarriage or neonatal infections.
  • Enduring Impacts: Neurological impairment or persistent fatigue among survivors.

Treatment expenses span $5,000 for hospital admissions to $50,000 or more for intensive care, especially for meningitis or sepsis.

Recall Remedy and Consumer Actions

The FSIS public health alert directs:

  1. Abstain from consuming the recalled Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo or Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with the specified best-by dates.
  2. Dispose of the products or return them to Walmart or Kroger for full refunds.
  3. Sanitize refrigerators, utensils, and surfaces potentially exposed to the products to avert cross-contamination.

Walmart and Kroger have displayed recall notices in stores and facilitate refunds. The CDC advocates meticulous cleaning after handling recalled items. Retaining receipts and documenting symptoms is vital for prospective legal claims, as investigations may prompt additional recalls.

Potential for a Class Action Lawsuit

The Listeria outbreak associated with FreshRealm’s chicken Alfredo products, with 20 infections, 19 hospitalizations, and 4 deaths, establishes a solid foundation for class action lawsuits against Walmart, Kroger, FreshRealm Inc., and the pasta supplier. Potential legal claims encompass:

  • Product Liability: Asserting manufacturing flaws permitted Listeria contamination, breaching food safety regulations.
  • Negligence: Alleging insufficient testing and oversight by FreshRealm and the retailers.
  • Failure to Warn: Claiming postponed recall announcements and inadequate consumer alerts.
  • Breach of Warranty: Arguing the products were unfit for consumption despite implied safety assurances.

Victims may pursue compensation for medical expenses ($10,000–$100,000 for grave cases), lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages for negligence. The outbreak’s broad reach (15 states) and dire consequences, including fatalities and a pregnancy loss, indicate a substantial plaintiff class, akin to the 2011 Jensen Farms Listeria case, which yielded a $38 million settlement. Ongoing probes may expose supply chain lapses, fortifying claims. Successful litigation could impose rigorous food safety measures for ready-to-eat meals and compulsory third-party testing for retailers like Walmart and Kroger.

Do I Have a Walmart Kroger Chicken Alfredo Class Action Lawsuit?

The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers focusing on the representation of plaintiffs in Walmart Kroger Chicken Alfredo lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Listeria infection cases in all 50 states.

Free Walmart Kroger Chicken Alfredo Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has experienced Listeria infection or related complications after consuming Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo or Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Walmart Kroger Chicken Alfredo class action suit, and our lawyers can help.

References

  1. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/30/nx-s1-5557934/pasta-listeria-outbreak-walmart-trader-joes
  2. https://www.today.com/health/recall/listeria-outbreak-recall-walmart-trader-joes-rcna234673
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/chicken-fettuccine-alfredo-06-25/index
  4. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ready-eat-meals-containing-pasta-may-be-contaminated

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