A listeria outbreak linked to recalled prepared pasta meals has left six people dead and numerous others hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to data collected by public health officials, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), a total of 27 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of listeria, which has been reported in 18 states.
Listeria, per the CDC, is “a bacteria that can contaminate many foods.” Those who consume the contaminated items begin experiencing symptoms as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
Of the 26 affected people that had information available, 25 were hospitalized, and 6 deaths were reported in he following states: Hawaii, Illinois Michigan, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
One pregnancy-associated illness, meanwhile, resulted in the loss of a baby.
In addition to the 27 cases reported, the CDC said the true number of sick people tied to the outbreak is likely higher, given it takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of such. Some people may also recover from the illness without seeking medical care.
Back in June, epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback data showed that chicken fettuccine alfredo meals produced by FreshRealm were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes that were making people sick.
In the following months, FreshRealm tested ingredients used in the meals and pasta from Nate’s Fine Foods, a ready-to-eat foods manufacturer in Roseville, Calif., after which the manufacturer initiated the voluntary recall of more than 245,000 pounds of prepared pasta dishes.
According to the CDC, pasta ingredients from Nate’s Fine Foods were later confirmed to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
While state and local health officials continue to “gather information of what ill people ate before getting sick,” they encourage consumers to return or discard recalled foods.
By DESIREE ANELO/People