Walmart Faces Listeria Outbreak Linked to Prepared Foods

Walmart shares (WMT) came under pressure following a public health alert issued by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. The warning concerns 12-ounce packages of 'Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce' after Listeria monocytogenes was detected in pre-cooked pasta samples.

This marks the second such incident in recent months, following a March outbreak tied to chicken fettuccine alfredo meals sold under Walmart's Marketside brand and Kroger's Home Chef label. The earlier contamination resulted in three fatalities and affected 17 individuals across 13 states.

Food safety experts note the current investigation seeks to determine if the strains are genetically related. Listeria outbreaks typically trigger product recalls and reputational damage, though market impact tends to be transient for major retailers.