USDA issues health warning for Walmart heat-and-eat pasta meals over listeria outbreak

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert Thursday for Walmart Marketside linguine with beef meatballs and marinara sauce, a precooked heat-and-serve pasta that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The notice ties the product to a listeriosis outbreak that has also involved chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals.

The affected item comes in a 2-ounce clear plastic tray and is labeled Marketside linguine with beef meatballs and marinara sauce. Best-if-used-by dates on the affected lots include Sept. 22, 2025; Sept. 24, 2025; Sept. 25, 2025; Sept. 29, 2025; Sept. 30, 2025; and Oct. 1, 2025. The linguine with beef meatballs was sold at Walmart. A test conducted by the company related to the outbreak investigation returned positive for Listeria. Consumers who have the product should discard it or return it to the store.

Public health officials have been tracing a broader Listeria outbreak that also involves chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals. A recall of the chicken fettuccine packages was issued in June, and regulators have said the current Walmart product may be linked to the same outbreak.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that often presents with fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea. The illness is particularly dangerous for older adults, pregnant people and individuals with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or life-threatening infection in newborns, and older adults can develop severe infections that require hospitalization. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, but prompt medical care is important for those who develop symptoms after potential exposure.

Symptoms can appear from a few days to up to two months after exposure. Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after possible contact with the product should seek medical attention promptly. Health officials say the best course for consumers is to discard any affected packages or return them to the retailer for a refund, and to check freezers for other Marketside linguine with beef meatballs and marinara sauce products bearing the identified best-by dates.

The USDA FSIS continues to investigate the outbreak and advises consumers to stay alert for updates. For questions about the alert or refunds, customers can contact Walmart’s customer service or FSIS consumer hotlines. Additional information is available through FSIS public updates as investigations proceed. In the meantime, the agency emphasizes that ready-to-eat meals should be handled with care and that individuals at higher risk should consider avoiding products linked to Listeria until the investigation is resolved.