Four individuals have died and 19 others have been hospitalized following an outbreak of listeria linked to contaminated food products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the incident involves recalled ready-to-eat pasta salads and meals sold nationwide at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Albertsons stores.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated a recall on September 25 for prepared pasta meals amid investigations into listeria monocytogenes contamination, which can lead to severe illnesses such as listeriosis. The outbreak has since expanded to 15 states, with 20 confirmed infections as of September 30.

Deaths have been reported in Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Utah, including a pregnancy-related case resulting in fetal loss. Confirmed infections were recorded in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. The CDC emphasized that these numbers reflect known cases and may not capture the full scope of the outbreak.

Albertsons Companies’ ready-to-eat pasta salads, sold under the Marketside brand, were recalled with best-by dates ranging from September 8 to 29. Products were distributed in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Trader Joe’s Cajun-style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo with best-by dates of September 20, 24, and 27 was sold in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Walmart’s Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce, with best-by dates from September 22 to October 1, was available at stores nationwide.

The CDC and FDA continue to monitor the situation, urging consumers to check product labels and discard affected items immediately.