Snohomish County Woman Hospitalized after consuming Listeria tainted Pasta

Snohomish County Health Department officials have confirmed that a Snohomish County resident is among those affected in a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, a serious bacterial infection linked to contaminated food products.

The woman, whose identity is being withheld for privacy, was hospitalized earlier this month and is now recovering. She is the first person in Washington state connected to this outbreak, which is linked to prepared pasta meals.

A total of 27 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 18 states. California 3, Hawaii 2, Florida 1, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Louisiana 2, Michigan 2, Minnesota 1, Missouri 1, North Carolina 1, Nevada 1, Ohio 1, Oregon 3, South Carolina 1, Texas 3, Utah 1, Washington 1. Sick people’s samples were collected on dates ranging from August 1, 2024, to October 16, 2025. Of 26 people with information available, 25 have been hospitalized and 6 deaths have been reported. One death from each of the following states: Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. One pregnancy-associated illness resulted in a fetal loss.

Listeriosis, the disease caused by the bacteria, can feature a range of symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeriosis is especially harmful to people 65 years or older, people with a weakened immune system, and women who are pregnant. In severe cases, it can cause debilitating headaches, confusion, seizures or loss of balance.

Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any these symptoms after eating any of the recalled prepared meals (frozen and ready-to-eat). Consumers are advised not to eat any of the products and to throw them away or return them to the store where they were purchased.

Below are the recalled items distributed in Washington. More details can be found at the Washington State Department of Health’s Food Recalls and Safety Alerts page.

• Sold at Sprouts Farmers Market:
  1. Sprouts Farmers Market Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad – product use by dates Oct. 10 to Oct. 29.
• Sold at Walmart, Fred Meyer, or QFC:
  1. Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo 12.5-oz – best-by date of June 19, 2025, or prior
  2. Kroger stores recalled deli bowtie and penne pasta salads – sold on Aug. 29, 2025, thru Oct. 2, 2025
  3. Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce 12-oz. – best if used by dates of SEP 22, 2025; SEP 24, 2025; SEP 25, 2025; SEP 29, 2025; SEP 30, 2025; and OCT 01, 2025
  4. Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine 12.3-oz – best-by date of June 26, 2025, or before; and 32.8-oz – best-by date of June 27, 2025, or before

Consumers are also advised to clean their refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products.

Federal health agencies and public health officials have been investigating Listeria monocytogenes infections since August 2024 linked to the prepared meals. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 27 cases across 18 states, with six deaths. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are also investigating.

Listeria bacteria are found in the environment and can spread from contaminated food to surfaces. Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator for several days.

To prevent Listeriosis infection:

• Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk.
• Thoroughly cook raw meat, such as beef, pork, or poultry.
• Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
• Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.