Check your freezer.
A recall has been issued for pasta sold at Walmart stores nationwide due to the potential contamination of listeria.
Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Gias Foods of New York announced the recall of two lots of frozen bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine after testing in two states, including Florida, found the products may contain the bacteria.
Here's what you should know.
Frozen pasta sold at Walmart recalled due to possible listeria
The recall is for 22-ounce packages of frozen bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine packaged in yellow plastic bags, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Consumers should look for bags with the following
information:
- UPC: 194346442706
- Lot No. L6079C with expiration date Sept. 19, 2027
- Lot No. L6080C with expiration date Sept. 20, 2027
The lot numbers and expiration dates are stamped on the back of the packages.
Why is frozen fettuccine being recalled?
The recall was initiated after a routine sampling program conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services found bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine may contain listeria.
Gias Foods said it stopped distributing the product while the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue investigating the source of the contamination.
Has anyone gotten sick from the recalled pasta sold at Walmart?
As of Sept. 15, no illnesses have been reported, according to the FDA.
What should I do if I bought the recalled frozen pasta?
Anyone who purchased the recalled lots of bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine should not eat the product, according to the FDA.
Consumers are advised to return the packages for a full refund.
Questions about the recall can be directed to Gias Foods at sales@giasfoods.com.
The company said inquiries will receive a response within 24 hours
Symptoms of listeria poisoning
Symptoms typically start a week to four weeks after eating contaminated food and vary depending on the person and the part of the body affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms typically include:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
Listeria can be especially harmful for some people, including:
- Pregnant women
- Newborns
- Adults aged 65 or older
- People with weakened immune systems
What are FDA recall levels and what do they mean?
Here are three levels of FDA recalls and what they mean:
- Class I recall: a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
- Class II recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
- Class III recall: a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://heraldtribune.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Check your freezer for recalled pasta sold at Walmart. Listeria symptoms
