Albertsons Companies, a major supermarket chain based in Boise, Idaho, has announced a recall of several store-made deli products due to potential contamination with listeria bacteria. This recall follows recent warnings from federal health officials advising consumers against consuming specific pasta meals sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s due to similar contamination risks.
On Saturday, Albertsons confirmed that it is removing five deli items from its shelves because they contain a recalled ingredient—bowtie pasta—supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods. The supermarket giant is taking proactive measures to ensure customer safety by advising consumers to avoid these products, which were distributed by Fresh Creative Foods, a provider of refrigerated goods.
The recalled items include various ready-to-eat offerings such as basil pesto pasta salad, as well as pasta dishes that feature chicken, spinach, and other ingredients. Consumers can check if their purchased items are affected by visiting Albertsons' website, where a list of product names, sell-through dates, and other identifying information is provided.
The recalled products were sold at various Albertsons-owned stores, including Albertsons Market, Safeway, and Von’s, throughout more than a dozen states. Albertsons has urged consumers to discard the affected products or return them to their local store for a full refund.
Albertsons has issued a warning regarding Listeria monocytogenes, which can survive in refrigerated conditions and can easily transfer to other foods and surfaces. The company emphasized the importance of thorough cleaning of any surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with the recalled products. The FDA recommends heightened vigilance when handling food items associated with potential listeria contamination.
As of the latest update, Albertsons has stated that there have been no reported injuries or illnesses linked to the recalled products. However, this recall comes amid broader health alerts from U.S. officials about potential listeria risks in ready-made meals from other retailers. Last week, the U.S. Agriculture Department issued a public health alert advising consumers not to consume Trader Joe’s “Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo” and Walmart’s “Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce” due to similar concerns.
Listeria infections can lead to severe health complications, particularly for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women along with their newborns. Common symptoms of listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1,600 people in the U.S. are affected by listeria infections annually, resulting in around 260 fatalities.
For further information, consumers are encouraged to stay informed by checking Albertsons' website and following updates from health officials regarding food safety and recalls.
