Kroger Recalls Two Deli Pasta Salads Due to Potential Health Hazard

CINCINNATI – Kroger Co. (KR) has announced a voluntary recall of its Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad across its family of stores in multiple states, including AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MO, MS, MT, NE, NM, NV, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, and WV. The move follows a recall initiated by Fresh Creative Foods, a supplier, due to the potential contamination of their pasta ingredient with Listeria monocytogenes. The pasta was manufactured by Nate’s Fine Foods, located in Roseville, CA.

Listeria monocytogenes poses a significant health risk, potentially causing severe and even fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. While healthy individuals may experience only short-term symptoms like high fever, headache, nausea, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women. While no illnesses or injuries have yet been reported in connection with this recall, Kroger is urging anyone experiencing these symptoms to immediately contact a healthcare provider.

The recalled items were sold from deli full-service and self-service cases in approximately 1,860 Kroger-owned stores under the Kroger, Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, King Soopers, Payless, Ralphs, and Smith’s banners. Kroger has proactively removed the affected products from its shelves and implemented its customer recall notification system, alerting potentially impacted customers via register receipt tape messages and email alerts.

The recall stems from Kroger’s supplier, Fresh Creative Foods, notifying them on September 26th that Nate’s Fine Foods had recalled bowtie pasta due to potential Listeria contamination. This initially affected 24 Smith’s stores in AZ, NM, and NV. On October 1st, Fresh Creative Foods informed Kroger that Nate’s Fine Foods was expanding the recall to include additional dates of bowtie pasta and, this time also penne pasta products.

Food safety experts note that supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly in pre-packaged foods, are becoming increasingly prevalent. This incident underscores the importance of robust monitoring and testing protocols throughout the entire food supply chain, from the supplier level all the way to the retailer’s shelves, even with the existence of companies performing rigid food safety certification against GFSI standards

Customers who have purchased the specific products listed above are strongly advised not to consume them and should return them to the point of purchase for a full refund or replacement. This move reinforces Kroger’s commitment to consumer safety and reflects a proactive approach to mitigating potential health risks associated with contaminated food products.