Deadly listeria outbreak linked to chicken alfredo fettucine sold at
Kroger and Walmart
[June 19, 2025]
By JONEL ALECCIA
A listeria food poisoning outbreak that has killed three people and led
to one pregnancy loss is linked to newly recalled heat-and-eat chicken
fettucine alfredo products sold at Kroger and Walmart stores, federal
health officials said late Tuesday.
The outbreak, which includes at least 17 people in 13 states, began last
July, officials said. At least 16 people have been hospitalized.
FreshRealm, a large food producer with sites in California, Georgia and
Indiana, is recalling products made before June 17. The recall includes
these products, which were sold in the refrigerated sections of retail
stores:
32.8-ounce trays of Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettucine
Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved
Parmesan Cheese with best-by dates of June 27 or earlier.
12.3-ounce trays of Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettucine
Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and
Shaved Parmesan Cheese with best-by dates of June 26 or earlier.
12.5-ounce trays of Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettucine Alfredo
with Pasta, Grilled White Meat Chicken and Parmesan Cheese, with best-by
dates of June 19 or earlier.
The strain of listeria bacteria that made people sick was found in a
sample of chicken fettucine alfredo during a routine inspection in
March, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said. That product was
destroyed and never sent to stores.
Officials said they have not identified the specific source of the
contamination. Cases have been identified through retail shopper records
and interviews with sick people.
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 The listeria strain tied to the
outbreak has been detected in people who fell ill between July 24
and May 10, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
reported. The deaths were in Illinois, Michigan and Texas. Cases
have been reported in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, South
Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
The number of sick people is likely higher than now known and cases
may be detected in additional states. Officials are continuing to
receive reports of illnesses linked to the product and are
concerned that contamination is still occurring," the CDC said.
Consumers shouldn't eat the products, which may be in their
refrigerators or freezers. They should be thrown away or returned to
the place of purchase.
Listeria infections can cause serious illness, particularly in older
adults, people with weakened immune systems and those who are
pregnant or their newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches,
headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
About 1,600 people get sick each year from listeria infections and
about 260 die, the CDC said. Federal officials in December said they
were revamping protocols to prevent listeria infections after
several high-profile outbreaks, including one linked to Boar's Head
deli meats that led to 10 deaths and more than 60 illnesses last
year.
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