Clearwater, FL — Nationwide Listeria Outbreak Tied to Ready-to-Eat Pasta Meals: What You Need to Know & Your Legal Options

Clearwater, FL (November 4th, 2025) – Federal officials are reporting new deaths and hospitalizations tied to a listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat pasta products from Nate’s Fine Foods, Inc. The outbreak has now resulted in six deaths and 25 hospitalizations across 18 states, including Florida.

Consumers who purchased recalled products should immediately check their refrigerators and freezers, and avoid consuming any affected items. If you or a loved one became ill after eating a recalled product, Light & Wyatt Law Group in Clearwater can help evaluate your legal options and pursue compensation for medical costs and other damages. Call our product liability lawyers today at 727-499-9900.

Scope of the Outbreak

The ready-to-eat pasta Listeria outbreak began in August 2024, and as of November 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 27 confirmed illnesses. 

Health authorities caution that the true number of affected individuals is likely higher. Some people recover without medical care or testing, so their cases may not be included in official counts. The CDC is actively investigating whether other products may be contaminated and continues to work with state health departments. 

Recalled Products and Retailers

Nine ready-to-eat pasta products have been recalled so far. These items are sold in refrigerated or frozen sections and intended to be microwaved before consumption. Major retailers involved include Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and Sprouts Farmers Market.

Recent recalls include:

• Sprouts Farmers Market Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad – use-by dates Oct. 10–29, 2025
• Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls – use-by dates March 2027
• Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo – multiple best-if-used-by dates in September and October 2025
• Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce – select September and October 2025 best-by dates
• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine – select June 2025 best-by dates
• Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo – June 2025 best-by dates

Consumers unsure about whether they purchased an affected product are advised to contact the retailer for guidance.

Listeria and Its Risks

Listeria monocytogenes is a dangerous bacterium that can survive in refrigerated environments, making contaminated ready-to-eat foods a significant health risk. Infections, known as listeriosis, can result in fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal distress, and in severe cases, sepsis or meningitis.

Certain populations are particularly vulnerable, including:

• Pregnant individuals (risk of pregnancy loss or premature birth)
• Newborns
• Older adults (65+)
• People with weakened immune systems

The CDC estimates 1,250 Listeria infections annually in the U.S., with roughly 172 deaths each year, highlighting the serious threat the bacteria poses. While healthy adults may experience mild symptoms, the infection can be fatal for at-risk populations, emphasizing the importance of immediate medical attention after exposure.

How Listeria Contamination Occurs

Investigators are reviewing production processes at Nate’s Fine Foods to determine how the ready-to-eat pasta products became contaminated. Listeria can survive in cold and damp environments, which makes it particularly challenging to eliminate from food-processing facilities.

Once contaminated, ready-to-eat products can spread the bacteria widely before anyone realizes there is a problem. Outbreaks such as this one illustrate the dangers of lapses in food safety protocols, including inadequate sanitation, insufficient temperature monitoring, or failures in bacterial testing. Federal authorities often issue guidance for manufacturers on proper cleaning and inspection practices following outbreaks.

Legal Responsibility of Food Manufacturers

Companies that produce or sell contaminated food can face legal liability for injuries or deaths caused by their products. Under product liability and negligence law, victims may pursue claims if the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer:

• Failed to maintain sanitary conditions in food production
• Failed to properly test products for contamination
• Failed to warn the public once contamination was detected

Victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and wrongful death. In some cases, punitive damages may apply if the company ignored safety warnings or failed to act on contamination evidence.

Understanding Legal Options After a Listeria Outbreak

For victims of contaminated food products, the consequences can be both medical and financial. Beyond immediate treatment costs, hospitalizations, and follow-up care, there may be long-term health effects that require ongoing medical attention.

If you or a loved one became ill after consuming a recalled pasta product, it is important to understand how legal claims typically proceed. In most cases, an attorney will work to:

• Identify the specific product and batch responsible for the illness
• Document the timeline of exposure and medical treatment
• Determine all potentially responsible parties, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers
• Assess damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and in some cases, wrongful death

Early legal consultation is critical because it makes sure that evidence, such as product packaging, receipts, and medical records, is preserved and properly documented. In complex foodborne illness cases, establishing a clear link between the contaminated product and the illness often requires collaboration with medical experts and epidemiologists.

Victims should also be aware that product liability cases can sometimes involve multiple defendants. For instance, a pasta manufacturer may share liability with a distributor or a retailer if safety protocols were not followed at any point in the supply chain. Understanding the responsibilities of each party is essential to pursuing full compensation.

Engaging an experienced Clearwater product liability lawyer at this stage allows families to not only seek compensation for their immediate losses, but also to hold negligent companies accountable, potentially preventing similar outbreaks in the future.

Victims of Listeria-Contaminated Pasta Can Pursue Legal Compensation

The ongoing Listeria outbreak from ready-to-eat pasta products has resulted in deaths, hospitalizations, and widespread concern across 18 states. Victims of these recalled products may have legal recourse to recover compensation for the harm they have suffered.

If you or a loved one became ill after consuming any of the recalled pasta products, contact Light & Wyatt Law Group in Clearwater at 727-499-9900 for a free consultation. Our attorneys help Florida families pursue justice and hold negligent manufacturers accountable for unsafe food products.

Jim Magazine

James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association