Walmart pasta meals pulled amid listeria outbreak

Walmart has removed Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce from stores amid a 2025 listeria outbreak linked to multiple illnesses. Credit: Shutterstock

Federal health authorities have issued an urgent warning after certain ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart were linked to a deadly listeria outbreak that has resulted in multiple deaths and illnesses across the United States.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) confirmed that Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, sold in Walmart stores, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The meals, packaged in 12-ounce clear plastic trays, carry best-by dates between 22 September and 1 October 2025 and display establishment numbers “EST. 50784” and “EST. 47718” inside the USDA inspection mark.

While no formal recall has been issued, the producer, FreshRealm, instructed Walmart to remove the meals from shelves nationwide. FSIS cautioned that additional products could be affected and encouraged consumers to discard any items matching the description.

Connection to previous outbreaks

Tests conducted by FreshRealm detected listeria in the linguine component of the beef meatball meal. Laboratory analysis confirmed it was the same strain responsible for a recent chicken fettuccine Alfredo outbreak sold at Walmart and Kroger, which resulted in four deaths and 19 hospitalisations across 15 states. FreshRealm stated that the contamination likely originated from a third-party ingredient supplier, with the linguine sourced from Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California.

The Walmart outbreak adds to a series of high-profile listeria cases in the U.S. Notably, a 2024 incident involving Boar’s Head deli meats led to 10 deaths and 60 hospitalisations across 19 states, highlighting the ongoing challenges of keeping ready-to-eat refrigerated foods safe.

Who is at risk?

Listeria infections are particularly dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeria affects approximately 1,600 Americans each year, resulting in around 260 deaths. Unlike many foodborne pathogens, listeria can grow at refrigeration temperatures, making chilled meals especially risky.

Industry response and prevention

FreshRealm confirmed it has removed affected meals from store shelves and continues to investigate potential contamination sources. Following previous outbreaks, including Boar’s Head, U.S. food producers and federal agencies have strengthened monitoring, detection protocols, and rapid-response measures for ready-to-eat foods.

What consumers should do

Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators for Walmart Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce with best-by dates from 22 September–1 October 2025 and codes EST. 50784 or EST. 47718. Any affected meals should be discarded immediately.

These recent incidents highlight the ongoing need for strict food safety practices in the U.S. ready-to-eat sector, both for large retailers like Walmart and established brands such as Boar’s Head