Health alert issued for frozen meals due to potential listeria contamination

The U.S. health and food safety agencies have issued a health alert for pre-cooked meals sold at Walmart and Kroger, as the number of deaths linked to a listeria outbreak rose to four this week. On Thursday, Sept. 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has added two more food products sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s to the list of products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). Consumers are advised not to eat the affected products. “Do not eat affected foods, return them or throw them out,” the CDC said on Friday. Take a look.Cancer and deep belly fat: New study links visceral fat activity to aggressive cancer growth in womenFatty liver alert: Study finds the deadliest risk factors for patients with MASLD, a common type of fatty liver disease If you have bought pre-cooked meals of late, you must check your freezer if you have the following products, which has tested positive for Listeria. MARKETSIDE LINGUINE WITH BEEF MEATBALLS & MARINARA SAUCETRADER JOE’S CAJUN STYLE BLACKENED CHICKEN BREAST FETTUCINE ALFREDO The USDA has warned that the meals may be contaminated with the same strain of Listeria found in a separate chicken fettuccine Alfredo product sold at Walmart. The Listeria outbreak has resulted in 20 reported cases, including three newly identified infections. Four people have died, 19 remain hospitalized, and it has affected 15 states, according to the CDC. “One of the producing companies collected samples of the FDA-regulated, pre-cooked pasta used as an ingredient in its product as part of the ongoing investigation related to the Listeria outbreak linked to chicken fettuccine alfredo meals. The test confirmed that the linguine pasta was positive for Lm and further testing is ongoing to determine if the Lm is genetically related to the specific outbreak strain. FSIS previously issued a recall notice linked to the Listeria outbreak in June and continues to coordinate with FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state public health partners,” the health agency said.What does magnesium deficiency look like in women? Know common symptomsHeart health: Oral bacteria tied to higher risk of clogged arteriesWalking 10 minutes vs 60 minutes: Top neurologist explains the benefits Listeria infection Consuming food contaminated with Listeria can cause listeriosis, a serious infection. Older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, and their newborns are more vulnerable to the infection. “This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis,” the CDC said.The symptoms typically start within two weeks after consuming food contaminated with Listeria, but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, chills, and convulsions are some of the common symptoms. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, neonatal sepsis, meningitis, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, requiring immediate medical attention and careful monitoring. FSIS said that they are concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. “Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase,” they added.