Since June of 2025, a Listeria outbreak has spread across the U.S. As of October 30th, the outbreak has now spread to 18 states: California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
While the outbreak has not been reported in the state of Tennessee, the fact that it has confirmed cases in both the Carolinas and Virginia can cause some alarm. In their October 30th report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that there had been a total of 27 reported cases, 25 hospitalizations, and 6 deaths.
The outbreak originated in prepared pasta dishes sold across the country– both refrigerated and frozen pasta meals were affected by this outbreak. Listeria is a bacterium that causes listeriosis, an infection. While listeriosis can affect anyone, pregnant women, newborns, individuals over 65, and people with weakened immune systems typically get sicker and experience worse symptoms when infected with listeriosis. Symptoms usually appear 2 weeks after consuming a food infected with Listeria. This includes fever, flu-like symptoms (body aches and fatigue), headache, confusion, and loss of balance, among a few others.
For pregnant women, it’s crucial to know that listeriosis can lead to preterm birth, a life-threatening newborn infection, miscarriage, or stillbirth. Listeria can also cause intestinal symptoms, like diarrhea and vomiting. These typically show up 24 hours after eating contaminated food, and only last for 1-3 days.
According to the CDC, Listeria can be found in many places, including soil, water, and even on animals. It is typically spread when food is harvested and processed, and is most often found in raw milk and soft cheeses, deli meats, cold-smoked fish, sprouts and melons.
While there is no cause for concern in Tennessee at this time, paying attention to the where, what, and when of the outbreak is crucial to keep you or someone you love from getting sick. To get more information on the outbreak, as well as other food recalls, visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s website at https://www.fda.gov/food/recalls-outbreaks-emergencies/outbreaks-foodborne-illness. If you ever find yourself with recalled food, throw it away immediately, and if you’re experiencing symptoms, tell a healthcare provider ASAP. Stay safe!
