Listeria, Botulism, and Beyond: Recent Food Recalls Show How Shoppers Can Stay Safe

Right now, two major recalls are in the spotlight: prepared pasta meals linked to listeria, and infant formula tied to botulism risk. Both highlight why it’s important to check recall alerts and shop with care.

Prepared Pasta Meals and Listeria

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a multistate listeria outbreak connected to frozen and ready-to-eat pasta dishes. These products, sold at major retailers, include pasta salads, alfredo trays, scampi linguini bowls, and meatball marinara meals. Listeria symptoms include muscle aches, upset stomach, and diarrhea. The infection can also cause severe illness, particularly in pregnant people, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems. The U.S. has seen a number of listeria outbreaks in the past year, which highlights the importance of staying alert to recalls.

What you can do: If you recently purchased prepared pasta, check the FDA’s recall list. Throw away any affected products and clean surfaces they touched. If you start to feel unwell after eating recalled food, it’s best to reach out to your doctor.

Infant Formula and Botulism Risk

All batches of ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula products were recalled due to possible contamination with clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism. Although rare, infant botulism can be life-threatening, leading to muscle weakness and difficulties with feeding.

What you can do: Parents should carefully check lot numbers and expiration dates on formula packaging. If you’re unsure, talk to your child’s pediatrician before use. If your child shows possible botulism symptoms such as weakness, trouble feeding, or difficulty breathing, seek medical care right away.

Shop Mindfully

These recalls are reminders that food safety is important, and we should all pay close attention to what our families eat and drink. Before heading to the store, take a few simple steps:

• Check FDA and CDC recall alerts
• Inspect packaging for lot numbers and expiration dates
• Store food safely at proper temperatures
• Throw away questionable products rather than risk getting sick

Staying alert to recalls helps protect your loved ones’ health. A little extra caution while shopping can make a big difference.