Frozen Meals Tied to Listeria Outbreak Leave 4 Dead — What Michigan Shoppers Need to Know

Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain frozen meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s after a listeria outbreak left four people dead and others seriously ill. The CDC says the outbreak has spanned 15 states, including Michigan, with 19 hospitalizations reported so far.

The warning applies to specific ready-to-eat pasta meals, including Walmart’s Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce and Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, which have been recalled due to potential listeria contamination.

Affected Products and Best-By Dates

The affected products are sold in 12- or 16-ounce plastic trays and have best-by dates ranging from Sept. 20 through Oct. 1 of this year. Although the products should have been removed from retail stores, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s warning indicates that the meals may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

Product details are listed in the chart below:

What to Do if You Have These Meals

So far, 19 people have been hospitalized and four people have died—one each from Michigan, Texas, Illinois, and Utah. One illness was reported in a pregnant woman, resulting in fetal loss.

If you suspect you have any of these meals, the CDC strongly urges you to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. The CDC also urges you to thoroughly wash any surfaces that may have come in contact with the contaminated products.