Kroger recalls pasta products, joins list of retailers taking action after deadly Listeria outbreak hits 15 states
The list of retailers that have yanked pasta products from their shelves continues to grow in the wake of a deadly Listeria outbreak.
On October 4, grocery retailer Kroger Co voluntarily recalled deli pasta salads sold at Kroger-owned locations including Ralphs, Smith’s, and Fred Meyer, in addition to Kroger stores. The products were recalled due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The recall notice was published to the website of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Saturday.
To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have been tracking a multi-state Listeria outbreak linked to read-to-eat meals containing pasta.
The outbreak, which dates back to last year, has caused four deaths and more than a dozen hospitalizations.
Here’s what you need to know:
Which products are included in the recall?
Kroger Co has recalled its Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad products.
These items were sold at deli service counters and self-service deli cases at 1,860 Kroger-owned stores, which include, Kroger, Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, King Soopers, Payless, Ralphs, and Smith’s.
This announcement follows a recall initiated by Fresh Creative Foods due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination of the pasta ingredient manufactured by Nate’s Fine Foods of Roseville, California.
Recalled products have been removed from store shelves.
Kroger has also been notifying customers who may have purchased the recalled products through register receipt tape messages and email alerts.
Here are the specific product details for impacted products:
- Basil Pesto Bowtie Pasta Salad (UPC 217573-10000): Sold from September 6, 2025, through October 2, 2025, in random-weight containers sold at the deli service counter and in grab-n-go packages at the deli department.
- Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad (UPC 227573-10000): Sold from August 29, 2025, through October 2, 2025, in random-weight containers sold at the deli service counter and in grab-n-go packages at the deli department.
Products were sold in the following states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
Don’t eat the recalled products
Customers who have purchased affected products shouldn’t eat them. They should return it to a store for a full refund or replacement.
If you have questions about the recall, contact Kroger by calling 1-800-KROGERS.
Pasta-related recalls continue to increase
This is one of several pasta-related recalls in recent days due to concerns of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
According to data from the CDC, 19 hospitalizations and four deaths have been reported following a Listeria outbreak connected to prepared pasta meals sold at grocery stores.
Ready-to-eat pasta meals sold at Walmart, Trader Joe’s and Kroger were previously recalled on September 26, 2025. The FDA added a new recall notice on September 30, 2025, which included ready-made products sold at Albertsons and Trader Joe’s.
Before consuming ready-made pasta products that you have in your fridge, you should verify whether they’ve been included in any recent recalls.
Listeria infection can be serious and even fatal
Listeria infection is spread through contaminated food.
According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy people rarely become seriously ill from Listeria infection. However, the disease can be fatal for unborn babies, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.
Pregnant women, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk for infection.
