An ongoing, multi-state listeria outbreak linked to prepared pasta meals has affected two individuals in Hawaii, resulting in one death, according to federal officials.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still investigating the outbreak, which has been linked to Nate’s Fine Foods, a California-based supplier, and includes pre-cooked pasta meals often found in the refrigerated and frozen sections of grocery stores.
The listeria outbreak was first reported as early as June, and has now sickened at least 27 people in 18 states, including two in Hawaii, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twenty-five people have been hospitalized, and six have died, including one in Hawaii, CDC said.
One pregnancy-associated illness resulted in a fetal loss, CDC said.
The Hawaii Department of Health confirmed two reports of listeriosis in Hawaii, one of which resulted in death, but said based on an investigation, there was no link to the recalled pasta. Laboratory testing, however, confirmed both were infected with the same strain of listeria.
“In collaboration with the CDC, DOH investigators collected available information on the foods the two infected Hawaii individuals had eaten and purchased in the month before they got sick,” said DOH in a statement. “In both cases, no known link to the recalled products has been identified.”
DOH continued with, “The CDC and other affected states continue to investigate whether cases of listeriosis are associated with recalled food or if additional foods may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. It is not currently known what product caused the listeriosis in either case. Both individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria were non-pregnant adults.”
DOH last month alerted the public of the recall of select lots of Scott &Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini products that were distributed nationwide, including supermarkets like Safeway.
That recall was issued Oct. 1 by the Demers Food Group. At the time, the FDA said no illnesses had been reported in connection with the Demers recall.
The recalled product included:
• Scott &Jon’s Shrimp Scampi With Linguine Bowls 9.6-oz; Lot codes S254522, S255522, S259522, S263521, and S263522; Best if used by dates of March 12, 13, 17 and 21, 2027.
The FDA has since released an expanded list that includes other brand and retail stores not present in Hawaii, including Sprouts Farmers Market, which sold a smoked mozzarella pasta salad; Kroger stores, which sold a basil pesto bowtie salad and smoked mozzarella penne salad; and Trader Joe’s, which sold a Cajun style blackened chicken breast fettuccine alfredo.
A full list of recalled products is available at this FDA website.
Due to the government shutdown, however, CDC said the latest update on its website may not be up-to-date. The last update was provided on Oct. 30.
Consumers should not eat recalled foods, and should make sure to clean refrigerators, containers, and surfaces that may have touched affected foods, CDC said. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
Listeria infections can cause serious illness and, in rare cases, death. People who are pregnant, older than 65 or have weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths.
Symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle aches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and/or diarrhea.
Symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating contaminated food, CDC said, but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Listeriosis may be treated with antibiotics.
Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms after having consumed the recalled products should contact their health care provider immediately.
Source: The Garden Island