Overview
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have confirmed a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak connected to ready-to-eat pasta meals, including Walmart’s Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo and Kroger’s Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. As of September 30, 2025, the outbreak has resulted in 20 confirmed cases, 19 hospitalizations, 4 deaths, and one pregnancy loss across 15 states: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia [1].
Illnesses began in August 2024 and continued into September 2025, primarily affecting pregnant women, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals, who are most susceptible to severe listeriosis. The affected products, 16-oz plastic tray packages from FreshRealm Inc., share contaminated pasta ingredients, with Walmart’s product bearing establishment number P-45288 inside the USDA mark of inspection and “best if used by” dates of September 22, 2025, to October 1, 2025. Kroger’s Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo has a best-by date of June 19, 2025.
Affected Product Details
The recalls target:
- Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo: 16-oz plastic tray packages with “best if used by” dates of September 22, 2025, to October 1, 2025. Establishment number P-45288 inside the USDA mark of inspection. Sold at Walmart stores nationwide.
- Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo: 16-oz plastic tray packages with best-by date of June 19, 2025. Sold at Kroger stores nationwide.
Consumers can identify the products by their grilled chicken and Alfredo sauce with fettuccine pasta, packaged in clear plastic trays. Related recalls include Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo (best-by dates September 20, 2025, September 24, 2025, or September 27, 2025), all linked to contaminated pasta ingredients.
Hazards of Listeria-Contaminated Pasta Meals
Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meals poses severe risks:
- Listeriosis: Causes fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal issues, potentially progressing to meningitis or sepsis.
- Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant women risk miscarriage or stillbirth; newborns may develop meningitis; older adults and immunocompromised individuals face hospitalization or death.
- Delayed Symptoms: Symptoms appear 1–4 weeks post-exposure, complicating diagnosis.
- Cross-Contamination: Listeria persists in refrigerated environments and spreads to other foods or surfaces.
Listeriosis is the third-leading cause of foodborne illness deaths, with a 20% fatality rate in high-risk groups.
Symptoms of Listeria Infection from Contaminated Pasta
Individuals consuming the contaminated Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo or Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo may experience:
- Early Symptoms: Fever, chills, muscle aches, or nausea within 1–4 weeks.
- Gastrointestinal Effects: Diarrhea, headache, or stiff neck indicating meningitis.
- Severe Complications: Confusion, seizures, or shock in advanced cases.
- Pregnancy-Related Issues: Flu-like symptoms leading to miscarriage or newborn infection.
- Long-Term Effects: Neurological damage or chronic fatigue in survivors.
Treatment costs range from $5,000 for hospitalization to $50,000 or more for intensive care, particularly for meningitis or sepsis cases.
Recall Remedy and Consumer Actions
The FSIS public health alert advises:
- Do not consume the recalled Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo or Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with the specified best-by dates.
- Discard the products or return them to Walmart or Kroger for a full refund.
- Clean refrigerators, containers, and surfaces that may have contacted the products to prevent cross-contamination.
Walmart and Kroger have posted recall notices in stores and encourage consumers to contact them for refunds. The CDC recommends thorough hand and surface washing after handling recalled items. Documenting purchases and symptoms is crucial for potential legal claims, as the investigation may lead to further recalls.
Potential for a Class Action Lawsuit
The Listeria outbreak linked to Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo and Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, with 20 illnesses, 19 hospitalizations, and 4 deaths, provides a robust basis for class action lawsuits against Walmart, Kroger, FreshRealm Inc., and the pasta supplier. Potential claims include:
- Product Liability: Alleging defective manufacturing allowed Listeria contamination, violating food safety standards.
- Negligence: Claiming inadequate testing and quality control by FreshRealm and the retailers.
- Failure to Warn: Asserting delayed recall announcements and insufficient consumer notifications.
- Breach of Warranty: Arguing the products were not safe for consumption as implied.
Plaintiffs may seek damages for medical expenses ($10,000–$100,000 for severe cases), lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages for negligence. The outbreak’s multi-state scope (15 states) and severe outcomes, including deaths and a pregnancy loss, suggest a large plaintiff class, comparable to the 2011 Jensen Farms cantaloupe Listeria case, which settled for $38 million. Ongoing investigations may reveal supply chain failures, strengthening claims. Successful litigation could enforce stricter food safety protocols for ready-to-eat meals and mandatory 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
- https://www.npr.org/2025/09/30/nx-s1-5557934/pasta-listeria-outbreak-walmart-trader-joes
- https://www.today.com/health/recall/listeria-outbreak-recall-walmart-trader-joes-rcna234673
- https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/chicken-fettuccine-alfredo-06-25/index
- https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ready-eat-meals-containing-pasta-may-be-contaminated