NEW YORK (AP) – Albertsons has announced a recall of some of its deli products made in-store following warnings from federal health officials about potential Listeria contamination. Consumers are advised not to consume specific pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s due to similar concerns.
This supermarket giant, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, stated on Saturday that it is withdrawing five deli items containing recalled bowtie pasta ingredients supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods. Albertsons encourages customers not to eat these products sourced from Fresh Creative Foods and advises them to either discard the items or seek a full refund at their local stores.
Among the recalled items are ready-to-eat basil pesto pasta salad and pasta dishes with chicken, spinach, and other ingredients. Customers can verify if their purchased items are affected by reviewing a list of product names, sale dates, and other identification details. Visit the Albertsons website for more information.
The recalled products were sold at various Albertsons locations, including Albertsons Market, Safeway, and Fons.
Albertsons warned in its release, “Listeria monocytogenes can survive at refrigerated temperatures and can easily transfer to other foods and surfaces.” The company also highlighted that the FDA recommends consumers to be particularly diligent in cleaning surfaces and containers that might have come into contact with recalled products due to potential Listeria contamination.
The Associated Press reported further on Sunday regarding Fresh Creative Foods, a division of premium foods based in California and Oregon, affiliated with Nate.
Albertsons confirmed on Saturday that there have been no reports of injury or illness connected to the recalled products. However, the recalls coincide with broader warnings from US health officials about potential Listeria contamination in ready-made meals available for sale. Some other retailers have previously been associated with a fatal outbreak.
Last week, the US Agriculture Bureau issued a public health warning advising Trader Joe’s customers to avoid “Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettuccine” sold with Best By Dates of September 20th, September 24th, and September 27th.
No recalls have been issued for these products, but Trader Joe’s has issued an advisory, advising consumers to discard or return affected chicken alfredo products, with Walmart officials mentioning that they have ceased sales of those items.
Similarly, the bowtie pasta involved in the Albertsons recall was sourced from Nate’s Fine Foods.
Infections from Listeria can lead to severe illnesses, particularly in older adults, individuals with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Symptoms may include fever, muscle pain, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and cramps.
Each year, approximately 1,600 individuals in the United States contract Listeria infections, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leading to about 260 fatalities.
Source: apnews.com