The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a public health alert on Thursday for precooked linguine and meatballs sold at Walmart, which might be contaminated with listeria.

The item is packaged in a 2-ounce clear plastic tray labeled “Marketside linguine with beef meatballs and marinara sauce,” featuring “best if used by” dates of Sept. 22, 2025; Sept. 24, 2025; Sept. 25, 2025; Sept. 29, 2025; Sept. 30, 2025; and Oct. 1, 2025.

Anyone with the product in their freezer should throw it out or return it to the store. 

The linguine specifically may be linked to a listeria outbreak involving chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals.

A test of the linguine by the company in relation to the listeria outbreak investigation came out positive for the bacteria. 

A recall notice of the chicken fettuccine packages linked to the outbreak was issued in June.

Listeria can cause listeriosis, whose symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea. 

It mainly affects older people, those who are immunocompromised, pregnant women and newborns. 

For pregnant women, it may result in miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection of the newborn, while older adults may also suffer from a life-threatening infection.

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics, and anyone who gets flu-like symptoms within two months of a possible infection should see a doctor.