Urgent Public Health Alert: Deadly Listeria Strain Found in Walmart Meatball Meals
Urgent Public Health Alert: Deadly Listeria Strain Found in Walmart Meatball Meals
Federal health officials have issued an urgent public health alert concerning specific heat-and-eat beef meatball pasta meals sold at Walmart stores nationwide. These products are suspected of being contaminated with a listeria bacteria strain previously linked to a deadly outbreak.
Consumers are warned not to eat “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce,” sold in refrigerated 12-ounce clear plastic trays. Affected products carry best-by dates ranging from September 22 through October 1, and may still be present in refrigerators. Look for establishment numbers “EST. 50784” or “EST. 47718” within the USDA mark of inspection on the label.
While a formal recall has not yet been issued, FreshRealm, the distributor, has advised Walmart to remove these meals from shelves. The identified listeria strain matches one found in a previous outbreak tied to chicken fettuccine Alfredo sold at Walmart and Kroger, which resulted in three deaths and at least 17 illnesses this past summer.
Tests conducted by FreshRealm detected the dangerous bacteria in linguine used in the meatball dish. Listeria infections can cause serious illness, particularly for older adults, pregnant individuals, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.