Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain heat-and-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria previously linked to a deadly outbreak.
The U.S. Agriculture Department updated a public health alert Friday to include Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettucine Alfredo sold in 16-ounce plastic trays. The products have best-by dates of Sept. 20, Sept. 24 and Sept. 27 and still may be in customers’ refrigerators. The affected meals have the number P- 45288 inside the USDA inspection mark.
Late Thursday the USDA issued a warning for Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce sold at Walmart in refrigerated 12-ounce clear plastic trays. Those products have best-by dates of Sept. 22 through Oct. 1. The affected meals contain the establishment numbers “EST. 50784” and “EST. 47718” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the label. They were sent to Walmart stores nationwide.
Additional products may be identified, according to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
No recall has been issued, but FreshRealm, a large food producer that distributed the products, said they advised Walmart this week to pull the meals from store shelves. Walmart officials said they put a stop on sales and removed the products from stores.