Some ready-to-eat meals sold at Walmart and Kroger are being recalled after multiple deaths and more than a dozen illnesses were reported across 13 states due to listeria poisoning, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
FreshRealm in San Clemente, Calif., Montezuma, Ga., and Indianapolis, Ind., is recalling certain chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may contain an outbreak strain of listeria monocytogenes contamination which can cause listeriosis, or listeria poisoning.
The ready-to-eat products were shipped to Kroger and Walmart retail locations across the U.S.
Here is what to know about the deadly recall:
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Ready-to-eat meals sold at Walmart and Kroger are being recalled after the FDA reported deaths due to listeria poisoning. FreshRealm is recalling certain chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may contain an outbreak strain of the deadly bacteria. By FDA
Which ready-to-eat meals were recalled?
The recalled ready to eat meals include:
- Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine: (32.8-oz. tray packages containing “tender pasta with creamy alfredo sauce, white meat chicken and shaved parmesan cheese”):
- Expiration Date: 6/27/25 or prior
- Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine: (12.3 oz. tray packages containing “tender pasta with creamy alfredo sauce, white meat chicken, broccoli and shaved parmesan cheese”):
- Expiration Date: 06/26/25 or prior
- Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo: (12.5 oz. tray packages containing “pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and parmesan cheese”):
- Expiration date: 6/19/25 or prior
The products bear the USDA mark of inspection on the product label along with the following establishment numbers found on the side of the packaging:
- EST. P-50784
- EST. P-47770
- EST. P-47718
Ready-to-eat meals sold at Walmart and Kroger are being recalled after the FDA reported deaths due to listeria poisoning. FreshRealm is recalling certain chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may contain an outbreak strain of the deadly bacteria. By FDA
17 people sickened, 3 deaths
The FDA reported the agency and public health partners including the Centers for Disease Control are investigating a listeria outbreak in connection to the prepared meals and that as of June 18, 2025, the outbreak had sickened 17 people in 13 states.
Of the 17 people, 16 were hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
As June 18, there had been three reported deaths and the loss of an unborn child associated with the outbreak, Bailey McWilliams, a FSIS spokesperson, confirmed to USA TODAY.
“There is one pregnancy associated illness in a mother that resulted in a fetal loss,” FSIS wrote in a release.
The latest reported illness onset, according to the federal agency, took place on May 10, 2025.
USA TODAY has also reached out to FreshRealm.
List of states of people with known listeria cases from recalled meals
With three people sick, Texas reported the most people ill from the outbreak, followed by Michigan at two.
The following states have people with known listeria cases:
- Florida (1)
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- Nevada (1)
- Ohio (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- Texas (3)
- Virginia (1)
Listeria poisoning symptoms
Listeria poisoning is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes, according to the CDC. It is considered a serious condition and can be dangerous or life-threatening, especially to older adults, people with weak immune systems, and pregnant women.
Symptoms include, per the CDC:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Other gastrointestinal symptoms
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and/or life-threatening infection of newborn infants
- Death
People in higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care.
For consumers who bought the item and froze it, the USDA said to throw it away.
Concerned about an illness regarding the product? The USDA has advised contacting a health care provider.
Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact FreshRealm’s customer service at 888-244-1562. Those with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854).