Recall Alert: NJ Shoppers Urged to Check Labels After Listeria Outbreak

Yet again, headlines are warning of a Listeria outbreak linked to contaminated food products, this time, prompting recalls in multiple states. But why does this keep happening?

What Is Listeria and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Listeria monocytogenes is a hardy, dangerous bacteria that thrives in cold environments, including refrigerators and food processing facilities. Unlike many other bacteria, it can survive and grow even at low temperatures, making it difficult to fully eliminate during production, transport, or storage.

Outbreaks often stem from ready-to-eat foods like deli meats, cheeses, packaged salads, and frozen vegetables. It's foods we assume are safe to eat without further cooking. Once Listeria gets into a food processing plant, it can be incredibly persistent, hiding in drains, equipment, or on surfaces that are hard to sanitize.

Which NJ Prepared Meals Were Recalled?

The latest Listeria outbreak recall are some of the popular Fettuccine Alfredo meals sold at Walmart Stores and Kroger. Please check your labels.

How to Identify the Contaminated Products

From fsis.usda.gov: CHECK YOUR LABELS, these are what you're looking for:

• 32.8-oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/27/25 or prior.
• 12.3 oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/26/25 or prior.
• 12.5 oz. tray packages containing “HOME CHEF Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and Parmesan cheese” with best-by date 06/19/25 or prior.

What NJ Shoppers Should Do Right Now

If you have any of these products in your refrigerators or freezers, you are urged to throw them away immediately or returned to the place you purchased it, FSIS says. You are urged not to consume them. To read more about the outbreak and to see labels,. CLICK HERE.

Read More: These Tiny Bugs are Taking Over New Jersey

After a long day of work, errands, and the chaos of everyday life, enter the magic of prepared foods. All my favorites frozen lasagnas, marinated chicken, veggie bakes, stuffed shells, and everything in between. It's fast and they're good, pop them in the oven and no pots and pans to clean up after.

Oven-ready meals are like a warm hug at the end of a hectic day, don't you agree?