Frozen pasta sold at Walmart stores nationwide, including in New York, is being recalled over possible listeria contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The pasta, sold under Walmart's exclusive Bettergoods brand, may be contaminated with listeria, according to an FDA recall notice issued in mid-September. Routine testing detected the bacteria in the products, and manufacturer Gias Foods has stopped production while investigating the potential contamination.
Listeria is a harmful bacterium that can cause serious and potentially fatal illness, particularly in children, older adults and pregnant people. However, anyone can become sick, and the FDA advises consumers not to eat the recalled products.
Here's what to know about the
recall:
Which Walmart pasta was recalled?
The frozen pasta comes in yellow plastic containers, with expiration dates printed on the back of the package. The product was sold at Walmart stores nationwide, including in New York.
- Bettergoods frozen Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine: 22 ounces; UPC 194346442706; lot codes L6079C and L6080C; expiration dates 9/19/2027 and 9/20/2027
What to do with recalled pasta
Customers should not eat the recalled pasta. According to the FDA, consumers can return the product to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
Consumers with questions can contact the company at sales@giasfoods.com.
Were any illnesses reported?
No illnesses had been reported when the recall was issued Sept. 15, according to the FDA.
What is listeria?
Listeria monocytogenes, commonly known as listeria, is a disease-causing bacterium that can be found in soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation and animals, according to the FDA. It can survive and grow under refrigeration and can thrive in unsanitary food production conditions.
What are symptoms of listeria?
Listeria infects about 1,600 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms vary, and listeriosis can take two forms:
- Less severe: Noninvasive gastrointestinal listeriosis may cause mild symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms may last one to three days, according to the USDA.
- More severe: Invasive listeriosis can cause headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. The disease can be life-threatening for newborns, pregnant people, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms usually begin within two weeks of eating contaminated food but can appear as soon as the same day or as late as 10 weeks afterward.
Walmart stores in New York
Consumers looking for nearby Walmart locations can use the store locator on the company's website by entering their ZIP code.
Walmart operates more than 4,600 stores nationwide, including more than 3,500 Walmart Supercenters. Of those, roughly 100 stores are located in New York state.
Contributing: USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Frozen pasta sold at Walmart recalled. Here's what to know
