(MENAFN) Six fatalities and 25 hospitalizations have been linked to a listeria outbreak traced to precooked pasta dishes recently recalled, the US Food and Drug Administration reported.

The FDA said the outbreak, first disclosed in June, has prompted multiple recalls of ready-to-eat pasta products containing noodles supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods, media reported on Monday. Listeria is a bacteria capable of contaminating a wide range of foods.

Federal authorities are working alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the multistate outbreak.

"Since the last CDC case count update on September 25, 2025, a total of 7 new illnesses from 3 states have been reported, with 2 additional deaths reported," the FDA said, noting that "one pregnancy-associated illness resulted in a fetal loss."

Of the 27 confirmed cases, 25 patients had been hospitalized as of Thursday.

The infections have been reported across 18 states, including California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

The recalled products include a variety of precooked pasta meals sold at major retailers such as Kroger, Walmart, Albertsons-owned stores, Trader Joe’s, Giant Eagle, and Sprouts. Items affected include chicken Alfredo, meatball pasta, shrimp scampi bowls, and deli pasta salads.

The FDA urged consumers to inspect their refrigerators and freezers for recalled items, emphasizing that listeria poses serious health risks, particularly for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. The infection can cause fever, muscle aches, neurological symptoms, and, during pregnancy, severe outcomes including miscarriage or stillbirth.

Listeria ranks as the third-leading cause of foodborne illness deaths in the United States, with roughly 1,250 cases and 172 deaths reported annually, according to the CDC.

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