Ready-to-eat pasta products continue to be recalled in connection with an ongoing Listeria outbreak, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The supplier of the affected pasta, Nate’s Fine Foods, Inc. of Roseville, California, has expanded its recall of certain lots of pre-cooked pasta, including fettuccine, linguine, and farfalle, after a sample of linguine pasta tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

In addition to products sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s stores, the following items have been recently recalled in connection with the Listeria outbreak:

Sprouts Farmers Market Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

• Distributed to Sprouts stores in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming
• Distributed starting on 8/31/25 through 10/7/25
• Packaged in plastic containers and sold from the Grab & Go section or packed directly from the deli service counter
• Grab & Go: UPC 2-15786-00000 and use-by dates from 10/10/25–10/29/25
• Deli counter: UPC 2-15587-00000 and use-by dates from 10/10/25–10/29/25

Giant Eagle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

• Sold in the prepared foods departments of Giant Eagle and Market District locations across western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Indiana
• Sold starting on September 25
• Products include Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad with UPC 256616000000 and expiration dates from 9/30/25 through 10/7/25; Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad-Small (4 pounds 8 ounces) with UPC 246511000000 and expiration dates from 9/30/25 through 10/3/25; and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad-Large (9 pounds) with UPC 246512000000 and expiration dates from 9/30/25 through 10/3/25

Kroger Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad

• Sold at Kroger Family of Stores (Kroger, Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, King Soopers, Payless, Ralphs, and Smith’s) in Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia
• BASIL PESTO BOWTIE PASTA SALAD: sold at deli service counter with UPC 217573-10000 and in Grab-n-Go packages in the deli department with UPC 217573-20000; sold from SEP 6 2025 thru OCT 2 2025
• SMOKED MOZZARELLA PENNE SALAD: sold at deli service counter with UPC 227573-10000 and in Grab-n-Go packages in the deli department with UPC 227573-10000; sold from AUG 29 2025 thru OCT 2 2025

Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls

• Distributed nationally to wholesale distributors and operators
• Lot codes: S254522, S255522, S259522, S263521, and S263522
• Best-if-used-by dates: 3/12/2027, 3/13/2027, 3/17/2027, and 3/21/2027
• UPC: 858175003919
• Global Trade Item Number (GTIN): 10858175003916
• Size: 9.6 ounces

Albertsons Store-Made Deli Pasta Salads

• Sold at Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Amigos, Andronico’s Community Markets, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Pak ‘N Save, Pavilions, Market Street, Randalls, Safeway, Tom Thumb, United, and Vons in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming
• Sell-thru dates from SEP 8 2025 to OCT 4 25

For a full list of product names with detailed information, including store locations, check the FDA notice.

The recalled products are the latest items connected to a 15-state Listeria outbreak first announced in June. As of October 10, there were 20 confirmed cases of Listeria infections linked to the outbreak, according to the FDA. At least four people have died and 19 have been hospitalized.

Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant women and newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems, per the FDA. Other people can be infected, but they rarely become seriously ill. Pregnant women typically experience fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

Check your refrigerator or freezer for the recalled products and throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. Also, wash and sanitize bowls, cups, storage containers, and other surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products. For questions, contact Nate’s Fine Foods at 916-677-7303 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Here are some important facts about listeria.

Having a well-stocked pantry is every home chef’s dream, and there are plenty of clever pantry organization ideas out there to help keep cooking efficient while also maximizing space in the rest of your kitchen.

But proceed with caution, because there are a few surprising items you should never store in the pantry—especially if you want to keep food quality at its best, and prevent potential pest infestations and food-based health issues.

Here are seven items you should never store in your pantry, and where to store them instead.

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If you bought cheese lately, check your fridge. Wegmans is recalling its Medium Camembert Soft Ripened Cheese and products that contain the cheese due to potential listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The affected products were sold between July 1 and August 12 in the cheese department at all Wegmans stores located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The recalled products include:

• Wegmans Medium Camembert Soft Ripened Cheese, 8.8 OZ, UPC: 77890-53515 with best by dates of 7/26/25, 8/12/25, and 8/19/25
• Wegmans Assorted Cheese Flight, 1 LB, UPC: 2-77100-00000-0
• Wegmans Grilling Camembert with Tapenade & Roasted Tomatoes, 10 OZ, UPC: 2-77297-00000-0
• Wegmans Caramel Apple Pecan Topped Brie Cheese, 13 OZ, UPC: 2-77645-00000-3

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, adults age 65 or older, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women, the agency warns. No illnesses related to this recall have been reported to Wegmans or its supplier so far.

The cheese was supplied to Wegmans by Estancia Holdings of Cumming, Georgia, who initiated a recall after the company was notified by its French supplier that three shipments they received may be contaminated with listeria.

If you purchased any of the affected products, do not eat them. Instead, return them to the service desk at your local Wegmans for a full refund. If you have any questions, contact Wegmans Food Markets at 1-855-934-3663, daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. The grocery chain has also placed automated phone calls to alert customers who purchased these products using their Wegmans Shoppers Club card.

My roommate often asks if she can, in good conscience, cook fish from frozen. Before I was asked to research how to thaw fish for this story, my answer was: “Probably…?”, with an inflection that suggested about 60 percent certainty. For clarity, I consulted a true expert on the subject, senior Test Kitchen editor Jesse Szewczyk, who schooled me on the correct way to thaw and cook frozen fish, depending on how much time you have.

If you have a day

If you remember in the morning that you’re planning a fish dinner that night (go you!), consider yourself blessed with the gift of time. The best method, according to Jesse, involves placing your fish fillets on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking dish and putting the whole setup in the fridge to defrost throughout the day (or in the refrigerator overnight if you’re prepping in the evening to cook the next day).

“If possible, I will try to cover it with something, like a large bowl or plastic wrap,” Jesse says. “This method is my favorite because it allows the excess water to slack out and drip onto the pan.” It’s crucial not to keep your fish out on the counter to defrost, in the interest of food safety—according to the USDA, leaving perishable food out at room temperature for more than two hours can lead to unsafe bacterial growth.

How to thaw frozen fish in under an hour

The “bowl method” is a common salve for defrosting fish in a pinch. If your frozen seafood is vacuum-sealed, place it directly into a bowl of cold tap water—not hot water, not warm water, not room-temperature water. Defrosting fish in anything other than cold water could negatively impact its texture and, according to the USDA, promote bacterial growth.

Refresh the water about every 20 minutes, or let your faucet drip slowly into the bowl to keep it cool. If your fish isn’t in vacuum-sealed packaging, Jesse recommends placing it in a plastic bag to mimic that. Depending on the thickness of your fillets, this faster method can have your fish fully thawed in as little as 20 minutes, though larger cuts may take up to an hour.

Can you cook fish directly from frozen?

To calm my roommate’s fish fears, and maybe yours too: The simple answer is yes. If you’re baking, braising, or poaching your fish—any method “in which you are not attempting to get any color,” according to Jesse—you can cook frozen fish directly from the freezer without negative consequence. However, because frozen fish will release excess moisture as it cooks, “if you attempt to sear it, it will be a mess,” he warns—a mushy, waterlogged mess. Use fresh fish or fully thawed fish (and make sure to pat it dry) in those cases.

Start thawing; our favorite fish recipes await:

Have you ever left frozen chicken out to defrost, only to order pizza or takeout for dinner instead? Hey, no shame; everyone has been there. Heck, that’s what makes chicken the unsung hero of meal planning — you probably figure you can just toss that bad boy back into the freezer for a later date. Not only would that help cut down on food waste, but it could even prolong the time until your next grocery trip. But what if you’ve left your frozen chicken sitting out long enough to defrost? Can you refreeze chicken safely then? After all, the last thing anyone wants is to give their entire family food poisoning. It’d be hard to live that mishap down.

According to the USDA, individual pieces of raw chicken (thighs, tenders, and breasts) can be stored in the freezer for up to nine months, whereas whole chickens can be frozen for up to a year. On the other hand, frozen cooked chicken has a shorter lifespan of only four months. Nevertheless, that’s still a long time. As you may have guessed, though, thawed chicken has its own set of guidelines for refreezing and consumption. For example, frozen chicken can defrost in the fridge, in cold water, or via the microwave. However, you can only refreeze chicken thawed in the fridge.

Still feeling a little iffy over the whole thing? Scary Mommy asked experts for tips on how to refreeze thawed chicken, best by dates, and if there are food safety concerns that come with refreezing defrosted poultry.

Can you refreeze chicken after it has thawed?

“There are a few scenarios to address here,” Jenna Werner, RD, a registered dietitian and owner of Happy Strong Healthy, tells Scary Mommy. “First, there is a difference between refreezing defrosted raw chicken and defrosted cooked chicken. Both can be refrozen as long as safety measures are considered during the defrost process,” says Werner, who stresses that not following USDA guidelines or refreezing chicken outside of the recommended parameters could result in a higher risk of food-borne illness and bacteria growth.

As explained, there are three common methods for thawing chicken. However, according to the USDA, the best way to thaw poultry that will be stored in the freezer again is in the refrigerator. “It is not recommended to thaw chicken at room temperature or on a countertop. Instead, you should only be thawing chicken in the fridge. Bacteria thrive at room temperature, and if thawing is done outside of the refrigerator, then refreezing is no longer an option,” Boston-based dietitian and owner of Hub Healthy, Tava Sternberg, RD, explains.

Is it bad to refreeze thawed chicken?

Well, this is sort of a trick question. In short, the answer is no. Refreezing previously thawed meat that has been stored in the fridge for 48 hours or less is perfectly safe.

However, if thawed incorrectly, yes, it could be dangerous to refreeze and consume. “Chicken has a high risk of causing food poisoning if not thawed or cooked correctly, as it may be contaminated with bacteria like Campylobacter or Salmonella,” Sternberg explains. “Cooking spoiled or bad chicken typically destroys surface bacteria, but cooking it may not destroy the toxins produced by the bacteria and can still cause food poisoning.” When in doubt, don’t take the gamble.

As far as taste goes, that’s more subjective. When you eat chicken that has been refrozen and then reheated, you may notice that the chicken tastes a little different. Werner assures this is expected and no cause for concern: “Refrozen chicken can lose some of its freshness and impact flavor and texture due to the moisture that gets lost when thawing. So if you make a dish and it tastes off, it may not be your cooking.”

How do you safely refreeze chicken?

Follow these USDA guidelines when refreezing thawed raw and cooked chicken:

• If you thaw raw chicken and decide not to cook it, you can refreeze it. (Sternberg recommends doing so within 48 hours.)
• If you cooked frozen raw chicken, it is safe to refreeze leftovers within three to four days.
• If you thaw cooked chicken (i.e., you bought raw chicken, cooked it, and then froze it), it is safe to refreeze uneaten pieces.

Whether the frozen chicken is raw or cooked, it should not be left out of the fridge for longer than two hours, or one hour in environments with a temperature above 90°F. If that does happen, toss it. According to Sternberg, “Raw chicken lasts in the fridge for about one to two days, while cooked chicken lasts about three to five days, so you should not be refreezing anything that is past these markers.”

How many times can you refreeze chicken?

Sternberg strongly advises only refreezing chicken once to ensure food safety, quality, freshness, and taste. That means if you cook frozen raw chicken on Monday, the leftovers must go back into the freezer by Friday at the latest. You can thaw and reheat those pieces on Sunday, but you cannot refreeze anything you do not eat for a second time.

How do you safely defrost chicken?

While we’re on the subject of refreezing chicken, it’s essential to know how to defrost it safely. Here are a few ways to do it that help keep bacteria from growing quickly.

• Use the fridge. You can store your frozen chicken in the refrigerator for one to two days. Ensure the refrigerator is set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Then place the chicken in a plastic bag or container. After it defrosts, be sure to cook it within one to two days.
• Place your chicken in a pot or freezer bag filled with cold water. Be sure to replace the water every 30 minutes. After the chicken has completely thawed, cook it right away.
• Stick it in the microwave, but only heat the amount of chicken you intend to use. Use a microwave-safe container and cook the chicken immediately once it has defrosted. Then clean out the microwave after removing the chicken.

It’s also important to note that it is OK to cook your chicken frozen, too. If you’re short on time, skip the thawing phase and make a chicken soup or start preparing a sauce. Be sure to cook it for much longer than usual to ensure the meat is thoroughly cooked. Instant Pots and pressure cookers are also excellent ways to quickly cook down meat. Avoid cooking frozen chicken in a slow cooker, as it can promote bacterial growth in your chicken.

How do you safely buy chicken?

If you use reusable bags for grocery shopping, try to use the same bag for your raw meat on each trip. Also, wipe those bags out often or after each use. When selecting your poultry, avoid packages with leaks and check the best-before date to ensure you’re not purchasing spoiled meat. Generally, picking up your frozen and cold food at the end of your grocery shopping is a good practice, as it keeps your food fresher for longer.

So, go load up on chicken thighs the next time they’re on sale. You’re now the master of your freezer destiny.

Chicken Alfredo is the latest item on a growing list of grocery staples to raise safety concerns—and this time, the consequences are heartbreaking. According to the CDC, a multistate Listeria outbreak linked to FreshRealm’s ready-to-eat chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals has resulted in 17 illnesses, 16 hospitalizations, three deaths, and a pregnancy loss.

The manufacturer, FreshRealm, has issued a voluntary recall, and federal health agencies, including the CDC, FDA, and USDA, are actively investigating how Listeria entered the food chain—whether through contaminated ingredients or production issues.

Here’s what’s affected:

Sold at Walmart under the Marketside label and at Kroger under Home Chef, the recalled products include:

• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese (32.8 oz) — Best-by date 06/27/25 or earlier
• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” (12.3 oz) — Best-by date 06/26/25 or earlier
• Home Chef Heat & Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and Parmesan cheese (12.5 oz) — Best-by date 06/19/25 or earlier

Packages can be identified by USDA inspection numbers EST. P-50784, P-47770, or P-47718.

If any of these are sitting in your fridge or freezer, do not eat them. Dispose of them immediately or return them to the store. Then wipe down any surfaces they may have touched. Listeria bacteria can spread easily and survive in cold environments like your fridge.

Why it matters—especially for pregnant women and young kids

Listeria monocytogenes can be mild in healthy adults, but during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a severe infection in newborns. According to the FDA, pregnant women are ten times more likely to get listeriosis than the general population.

Symptoms may show up days or even weeks after exposure and include:

• Fever and muscle aches
• Loss of balance
• Convulsions
• Headache or confusion
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

If you’re pregnant and develop any of these symptoms—especially after eating a recalled product—call your provider. Early antibiotic treatment is key.

Related: Recall alert: Orajel teething swabs pulled from shelves over potential fungal contamination

Take action now:

• Check your fridge for any of the listed products.
• Clean your fridge and containers—even small amounts of Listeria can spread.
• Watch for symptoms, especially if you’re pregnant or immunocompromised.
• Visit CDC’s outbreak page for updates.

One more bit of reassurance: While this is a serious outbreak, no new illnesses have been reported since May 10, and FreshRealm says much of the affected product was caught before distribution.

More from Motherly

Because feeding your family shouldn’t come with fear—just information, action, and a reminder that your vigilance keeps your home safer.

Related: Bugaboo recalls 18,000 high chairs after injury reports—how to keep your baby safe

“I have definitely been eating these without a care in the world.”

A woman is urging others to be careful what they eat after buying a package of Medjool dates from Whole Foods and finding what she believes to be mold inside some of them.

Featured Video

But her findings turn out to be a normal phenomenon in dates.

TikTok user Sargina (@sargina89) posted a video about her Whole Foods date problem on June 13.

Should you cut your Medjool dates in half before eating?

“This is why you should cut your dates in half before you eat them,” she says to start the video. “Honestly, it’s very common that sometimes they get moldy on the inside. That right there? That’s mold.”

That’s why Sargina discourages her followers from biting into their dates without first double-checking them by cutting them in half. “Check your Medjool dates before biting into them,” she wrote in the caption.

“Ignorance is bliss.”

The internet didn’t abandon its obligation to roast her in the comments. 

“First sentence from Jeffrey Dahmer,” joked one user.

“I would never eat dates, but I definitely won’t ever now,” said a second.

“I have definitely been eating these without a care in the world,” admitted a third user. “Ignorance is bliss, I guess.”

However, one person said Sargina is mistaken. “It’s actually cellulose (fiber),” they wrote. “Mold that grows on dates grows on the outside and is white and fluffy. Those are safe. Enjoy.”

@sargina89 Check your medjool dates before biting into them! #dates #medjooldates #snack ♬ original sound – Sargina

Is that mold inside your date?

According to this article from date seller Nara, dates can grow mold on the inside and outside of the fruit structure. But the commenter is correct that it will look white and fluffy.

Natural Delights, the date brand Sargina actually purchased from, notes that the white film you may notice inside your dates is actually just crystallized sugar. This can happen during storage due to the natural curing process of the dates.

The same FAQ page notes that dates rarely grow internal mold.

Still, Sargina is correct that you should carefully check dates to make sure that you’re not eating a moldy one by accident.

The article specifically mentions Medjool dates and mold, because they are extremely fresh and therefore susceptible to mold growth, most commonly on their exteriors. The article recommends storing these dates in the refrigerator or even the freezer to prevent mold. Of course, eating them quickly is the best course of action.

The Daily Dot reached out to Sargina via TikTok comment and direct message and to Whole Foods via email for comment.

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