Kroger Recalls Two Pasta Salads Linked to Listeria

Kroger has recalled two deli pasta salads—Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad—because the pasta ingredient, supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods and distributed via Fresh Creative Foods, may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The items were sold at deli counters and grab-and-go cases at about 1,860 Kroger Family stores across 28 states and have been removed from shelves; Kroger has activated customer notifications and is offering refunds and says it has not received reports of illnesses tied specifically to these salads. The recall is part of a broader multistate Listeria outbreak linked by the FDA to products made with ingredients from Nate’s Fine Foods that has sickened about 20 people and caused four deaths across roughly 15 states and prompted additional recalls, including Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi bowls. Health officials warn Listeria is especially dangerous for pregnant people, older adults and those with weakened immune systems, and advise consumers to return or discard affected products and thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces that contacted them.