(WDNews)– A listeria outbreak tied to heat-and-eat chicken fettuccine alfredo sold at Kroger and Walmart has killed three people and caused a pregnancy loss, according to federal health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the outbreak has sickened at least 17 people across 13 states since August 2024. The source of the outbreak is linked to prepackaged alfredo meals produced by FreshRealm, a food manufacturer with facilities in California, Georgia, and Indiana.
FreshRealm has issued a recall for several products made before June 17, 2025. Recalled items include:
-
Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (32.8 oz)
– Best by June 27 or earlier. -
Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli (12.3 oz)
– Best by June 26 or earlier. -
Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (12.5 oz)
– Best by June 19 or earlier.
Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (32.8 oz)
– Best by June 27 or earlier.
Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli (12.3 oz)
– Best by June 26 or earlier.
Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (12.5 oz)
– Best by June 19 or earlier.
These products were distributed to retail locations nationwide. Officials confirmed that the same strain of listeria found in patients was detected during a routine inspection of a product sample in March. That sample was destroyed and did not reach store shelves. However, the precise source of the contamination has not yet been identified.
The CDC urges consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers and discard any of the recalled products. Items may also be returned to the place of purchase.
Listeria infections can be life-threatening, particularly for pregnant individuals, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, confusion, and loss of balance.
The CDC reports that approximately 1,600 people in the U.S. contract listeria each year, with about 260 fatalities. In response to a recent rise in cases, including a deadly 2024 outbreak linked to deli meats, federal health agencies are working to revise safety protocols to better prevent future contamination events.
An investigation into the current outbreak remains ongoing.
