Deadly Listeria outbreak in US triggers recall of chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals

FreshRealm has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of its ready-to-eat chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals sold at Walmart and Kroger following a listeria outbreak that has caused 17 illnesses, including three deaths and one foetal loss.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed that the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes may have contaminated the products.

Between August 2024 and May 2025, illnesses linked to the strain emerged and routine testing at FreshRealm’s Texas facility detected the bacteria in March 2025.

FreshRealm stated in its recall notice: “Out of an abundance of caution, the company is voluntarily recalling all products produced prior to June 17, 2025, that are available in commerce under the following brand names.”

• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (32.8 oz trays), best-by June 27, 2025, or earlier
• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine and Broccoli (12.3 oz trays), best-by June 26, 2025, or earlier
• Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (12.5 oz trays), best-by June 19, 2025, or earlier

These products, bearing establishment numbers Est. P-50784, Est. P-47770, or Est. P-47718 inside the USDA inspection mark, were distributed nationwide through Walmart under the Marketside brand and Kroger under the Home Chef brand.

The FDA classified the recall as Class 1, defining it as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Health officials have not yet identified the exact source of the contamination. However, the food safety agency noted ongoing efforts to trace it, stating:

This investigation is ongoing. FSIS is sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettuccine Alfredo may be the source of this strain of Lm.”

Listeriosis symptoms

Listeriosis, caused by consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, can lead to severe, sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, the elderly and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Healthy individuals may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. For pregnant women, infection can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. 

People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

Advice for consumers with recalled products:

• Do not eat recalled foods. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
• Clean your refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have touched the recalled foods. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
• Call a healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms after eating the recalled foods.

The FSIS also stresses the importance of cooking premade meals to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to kill harmful bacteria, recommending the use of a food thermometer for confirmation.