NBC News, citing updated data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 4, reported that six people have died and 25 others have been hospitalized across 18 states since contaminated ready-to-eat pasta meals were first discovered in supermarkets in June.
Since the last update on September 25, health officials have identified seven additional cases in three states, including two deaths — one involving a woman who suffered a miscarriage.
The outbreak has triggered a nationwide recall of pasta meals, including products from Nate’s Fine Foods. Major retailers such as Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons have all been affected. The FDA urged consumers to “carefully check refrigerators and freezers for recalled items.”
According to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis — a serious infection that can be particularly dangerous for older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns.
“Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms,” FSIS said in a statement. “In pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriage or premature birth.”
Listeria infection is the third leading cause of foodborne illness–related deaths in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that roughly 1,250 Americans contract listeriosis each year, resulting in about 172 deaths.