Update: Nationwide Listeria Outbreak from Recalled Pasta Kills 6, Sickens 27
November 3, 2025 – A Listeria outbreak linked to contaminated pre-cooked pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods has sickened 27 people across 18 states, resulting in 25 hospitalizations, 6 deaths, and one fetal loss, with illness onset dates ranging from August to September 2025 [4]. The outbreak has triggered recalls of ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at major retailers including Kroger, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Albertsons, and Sprouts, with products like Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo and Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo pulled from shelves nationwide.
Overview
On October 4, 2025, The Kroger Co. announced a voluntary recall of Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination in the pasta ingredient supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California.
The recall affects products sold at 1,860 Kroger Family of Stores locations, including Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, King Soopers, Payless, Ralphs, and Smith’s, across 28 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.
The Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad, with UPC 217573-10000 (deli service) and 217573-20000 (grab-n-go), was sold from September 6 to October 2, 2025, as random-weight items. The Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad, with UPC 227573-10000, was sold from August 29 to October 2, 2025. Kroger was notified on September 26 by supplier Fresh Creative Foods about the pasta recall, and again on October 1 for additional dates.
No illnesses have been reported, but Listeria can cause serious infections, particularly in pregnant women, newborns, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems, potentially leading to miscarriages, stillbirths, or death. Consumers are advised to discard or return the products for a full refund, with Kroger removing items from shelves and notifying customers via register receipts and emails.
The recall, following a similar alert for Albertsons products, highlights supply chain vulnerabilities in deli-prepared foods. Potential class action lawsuits are emerging, accusing Kroger and Fresh Creative Foods of negligence, inadequate testing, and delayed notifications, which could entitle affected consumers to compensation for medical expenses, economic losses, and emotional distress [1].
This recall is part of a broader pattern of Listeria concerns in ready-to-eat salads, with similar supplier alerts affecting Albertsons stores in 15 states. The absence of reported illnesses does not diminish the risk, as Listeria symptoms can mimic the flu and go undiagnosed, with a 20% fatality rate in vulnerable groups.
The products’ random-weight packaging and deli placement complicate tracing, potentially broadening the plaintiff class. Legal action may focus on Kroger’s oversight of suppliers, with precedents like the 2018 Kroger deli meat recall (settled for $2.5 million) suggesting potential for multimillion-dollar resolutions.
Affected Product Details
The recall includes:
- Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad: UPC 217573-10000 (deli service, random weight) and 217573-20000 (grab-n-go, random weight). Sold from September 6 to October 2, 2025, at deli full and self-service cases.
- Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad: UPC 227573-10000 (deli service and grab-n-go, random weight). Sold from August 29 to October 2, 2025, at deli full and self-service cases.
These products, prepared in-store deli departments, are identifiable by their labels and UPC codes. Kroger has removed them from shelves and is alerting customers through receipt messages and emails [1].
Hazards of Listeria-Contaminated Pasta Salads
Listeria monocytogenes in deli pasta salads presents acute threats:
- Severe Listeriosis: Leads to fever, muscle pain, and digestive issues, escalating to meningitis or sepsis.
- Vulnerable Groups: Pregnant women risk miscarriage or stillbirth; newborns may develop meningitis; older adults and immunocompromised individuals face high mortality.
- Symptom Onset Delay: Manifestations emerge 1–4 weeks after consumption, delaying diagnosis.
- Refrigeration Tolerance: Listeria survives cold storage, facilitating spread to other deli items or home refrigerators.
Listeriosis ranks as the third-deadliest foodborne illness, with a 20% fatality rate among at-risk populations.
Symptoms of Listeria Infection from Contaminated Pasta
Those consuming the recalled Kroger pasta salads may develop:
- Initial Indicators: Fever, chills, nausea, or muscle aches within 1–4 weeks.
- Digestive Symptoms: 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:
- Abstain from consuming the recalled Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad or Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad with the specified sale dates.
- Dispose of the products or return them to Kroger stores for full refunds.
- Sanitize refrigerators, utensils, and surfaces potentially exposed to the products to avert cross-contamination.
Kroger has posted in-store notices and facilitates refunds via customer service at 1-800-KROGERS. 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 risk in Kroger’s Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad, stemming from a supplier alert, establishes grounds for class action lawsuits against Kroger and Fresh Creative Foods. Potential legal claims encompass:
- Product Liability: Asserting manufacturing flaws permitted Listeria contamination, breaching food safety regulations.
- Negligence: Alleging insufficient testing and oversight by Fresh Creative Foods and Kroger.
- Failure to Warn: Claiming postponed alerts and inadequate consumer notifications.
- 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 recall’s scope across 28 states and 1,860 stores indicates a substantial plaintiff class, akin to the 2018 Kroger deli meat Listeria case, which settled for $2.5 million. Ongoing probes may expose supply chain lapses, fortifying claims. Successful litigation could impose rigorous food safety measures for deli-prepared items and compulsory third-party testing for retailers like Kroger.
Do I Have a Kroger Pasta Salad 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 Kroger Pasta Salad lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Listeria infection cases in all 50 states.
Free Kroger Pasta Salad Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has experienced Listeria infection or related complications after consuming Kroger Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad or Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Kroger Pasta Salad class action suit, and our lawyers can help.
References
- https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kroger-voluntarily-recalls-two-varieties-deli-pasta-salads-because-possible-health-risk
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kroger-recalls-deli-pasta-salads-possible-listeria-contamination/
- https://kfor.com/news/consumer/kroger-recalls-deli-items-in-28-states-over-possible-listeria-contamination/
- https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-pasta-recall-listeria-outbreak-nationwide-10982172