What We Know About the FreshRealm Prepared Pasta Listeria Outbreak
CDC, FDA, and USDA-FSIS linked 28 Listeria monocytogenes illnesses, 27 hospitalizations, 7 deaths, and 1 fetal loss across 19 states to prepared meals containing pasta, including FreshRealm chicken fettuccine alfredo sold as Marketside at Walmart and Home Chef at Kroger. The outbreak was declared over on February 12, 2026.
How the Outbreak Was Traced
CDC, FDA, and USDA-FSIS opened a multistate investigation in June 2025 after Listeria illnesses were linked to refrigerated chicken fettuccine alfredo meals. FreshRealm’s ingredient testing identified linguine pasta from supplier Nate’s Fine Foods as the contaminated ingredient, and whole genome sequencing matched it to bacteria from sick people.
Once the pasta was identified, Nate’s Fine Foods recalled certain pasta lots. Meals and deli pasta salads made with it were recalled or named in public health alerts at retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Albertsons, Sprouts, and Giant Eagle.
Why This Outbreak Was So Deadly
The deaths were reported from Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. The median age of people who got sick was 75, and 68 percent were female. The high death rate reflects how dangerous Listeria is for the elderly, immunocompromised, and pregnant women. Sick people’s samples were collected from August 1, 2024, to November 16, 2025.
Who May Be Liable
Multiple companies in the supply chain may be liable: FreshRealm Inc. as the meal manufacturer, Nate’s Fine Foods as the pasta supplier, and major retailers like Walmart and Kroger that sold FreshRealm meals under their store brand names. Product liability law typically allows plaintiffs to pursue any party in the chain of distribution.
FreshRealm and four affiliated companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 27, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (Case No. 26-14656). The court confirmed its Chapter 11 plan on September 28, 2026, and the plan took effect on October 6, 2026. The bankruptcy can affect how and when claims against FreshRealm move forward, so talk with a lawyer about your options.
Your Legal Rights
If you or a loved one became ill after eating FreshRealm, Marketside, Home Chef, or other recalled prepared pasta products, our team can review a possible claim. Medical records, test results, and purchase details help, but you don’t need every record or a confirmed diagnosis before contacting us. Depending on the evidence and applicable law, a claim may seek medical expenses, lost income, and other losses. Families affected by a death or pregnancy loss can also ask for a review.