The Major Frozen Pasta Recall That Affected Multiple Brands
Pasta seems like a pretty benign food, but it can be surprisingly dangerous. In one tragic incident, a 20-year-old Belgian man died from eating cooked pasta that was kept for too long at room temperature. The proper way to store both pasta and cooked rice -- both of which can be breeding grounds for the deadly Bacillus cereus toxin -- is to refrigerate them within two hours of preparation. You should also keep your cooked pasta in the fridge for no longer than four to five days.
So, is the only risk from home-cooked pasta? Unfortunately, this isn't the case, since there have been numerous store-bought pasta recalls that have affected millions. One major recall by the Nestlé company in 2016 affected two different pasta brands: Lean Cuisine spinach artichoke ravioli, ricotta and spinach ravioli, and mushroom mezzaluna were pulled from the market along with Stouffer's chicken and vegetable lasagnas. In addition to the pasta meals, several pizza products (DiGiorno Thin & Crispy spinach and garlic, rising crust spinach and mushroom, thin crust spinach and mushroom, and Tuscan-style chicken and Lean Cuisine's spinach and mushroom) were also recalled, as was Lean Cuisine's spinach, artichoke, and chicken panini and Stouffer's spinach soufflé.
The reason for the recall involved the spinach contained in all of these products. This vegetable, which all came from one grower, seemed to have been contaminated with small pieces of glass. Luckily, no injuries were reported, but Nestlé took a hit equivalent to the profit on three million meals.
Read more: The Biggest Kirkland Signature Flops In Costco History
When Nestlé issued that 2016 recall on pasta and other spinach-containing products, it wasn't the company's first rodeo. In 2014, the company pulled a noodle dish called Lean Cuisine Culinary Collection chicken with peanut sauce because some of the packages instead contained shrimp alfredo, and shrimp is a known allergen. In 2020, it had to recall about 29,002 pounds of Lean Cuisine fettuccini alfredo due to the presence of soy, another allergen that was not disclosed on the packaging.
More recently, a March 2025 recall again affected Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's pasta products. The items involved were Lean Cuisine butternut squash ravioli, spinach artichoke ravioli, and Stouffer's party-size chicken lasagna. The rice-based Lean Cuisine lemon garlic shrimp stir fry was also part of the recall. The problem this time around was similar to that of the 2016 incident, only in this case, the foreign matter present in some of the frozen meals was described as being wood-like. In this case, at least one person actually ingested the substance and experienced some choking as a result. To date, however, there have been no reports of other injuries, and we hope this will continue to be the case.
For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more!
Read the original article on The Takeout.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
19 hours ago
- New York Post
Children's cough syrup recalled due to possibly deadly food poisoning risk: ‘Stop using it immediately'
Parents: You might want to check your medicine cabinet. A New York-based pharmaceutical company is voluntarily recalling several batches of a popular children's cough syrup over fears they may be contaminated with harmful bacteria. The Food and Drug Administration is urging consumers to 'stop using it immediately' if they have any of the affected lots of Little Remedies® Honey Cough Syrup, according to an alert issued by the agency on Wednesday. Advertisement 3 The recalled product may contain Bacillus cereus Little Remedies The affected bottles were sold both in stores and online between Dec. 14, 2022, and June 4, 2025. The syrup comes in a 4-fluid-ounce amber bottle, packaged in an outer carton. Lot codes, which identify the recalled products, can be found on the bottle label and the bottom of the box. Advertisement The following five batches are affected: 3 FDA No other Little Remedies products are part of the recall. Syrup affected by the recall may be tainted with Bacillus cereus, a bacteria that can lead to two types of food-borne illnesses, according to the FDA. Advertisement One causes nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps within six hours of exposure. The other triggers diarrhea and cramping, typically 8 to 16 hours after use. 3 The product is intended for children ages 1 year and older. redpepper82 – 'While healthy individuals may suffer only short-term illness, exposure to high levels of B. cereus can be fatal,' the agency said in an alert. So far, no illnesses have been reported. The FDA recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms seek medical attention and report any adverse reactions through their website. Advertisement Manufacturer, Medtech, is offering full refunds for the recalled products. Customers can contact the company directly by email at medicalaffairs@ through its website or by phone at (800) 754-8853 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Popular Kids' Cough Medicine Recalled for Risk of Bacterial Infection That 'Can Cause Death'
Medtech Products is recalling five lots of its Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup for bacterial contamination The food-borne illness causes gastrointestinal symptoms, which can be mild in healthy individuals but can cause death with long exposure The recall also extends to any lots within expiryA popular cough medicine for children is being recalled for possible bacterial contamination. Medtech Products issued a voluntary recall of five lots of its Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup due to "the presence of Bacillus cereus and loss of shelf-stability," the United States Food and Drug Administration stated in an announcement on June 18. The product was distributed nationwide between Dec. 14, 2022, and June 4, 2025. Bacillus cereus is a bacteria that can cause two kinds of foodborne illnesses, both related to gastrointestinal issues. The first illness is marked by nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps that begin anywhere from one to six hours after consuming the contaminated product. The second illness, which tends to begin eight to 16 hours after consuming the contaminated product, is marked by stomach cramps and diarrhea. "Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term illness, exposure to high levels of foodborne B. cereus can cause death," the announcement read. The recall extends to Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup in a 4 fl oz amber bottle with a UPC of 7-56184-10737-9. The lots included in the recall are as follows: Lot 0039, with an expiration date of 11/2025 Lot 0545, with an expiration date of 01/2026 Lot 0640, with an expiration date of 02/2026 Lot 0450, with an expiration date of 05/2026 Lot 1198, with an expiration date of 12/2026 Furthermore, all lots of the product that are still within expiry are included in the recall. Customers who bought the recalled product are urged to stop using it immediately and contact a doctor in the event of any symptoms that could be associated with using the product. The company will also offer reimbursement to those who purchased items from the recalled lots. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Medtech Products did not disclose how it discovered the bacterial contamination. Any further questions or concerns should be directed to Medtech at medicalaffairs@ on their site, or by phone at (800) 754-8853. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Popular Kids' Cough Medicine Recalled for Risk of Bacterial Infection That 'Can Cause Death'
Medtech Products is recalling five lots of its Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup for bacterial contamination The food-borne illness causes gastrointestinal symptoms, which can be mild in healthy individuals but can cause death with long exposure The recall also extends to any lots within expiryA popular cough medicine for children is being recalled for possible bacterial contamination. Medtech Products issued a voluntary recall of five lots of its Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup due to "the presence of Bacillus cereus and loss of shelf-stability," the United States Food and Drug Administration stated in an announcement on June 18. The product was distributed nationwide between Dec. 14, 2022, and June 4, 2025. Bacillus cereus is a bacteria that can cause two kinds of foodborne illnesses, both related to gastrointestinal issues. The first illness is marked by nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps that begin anywhere from one to six hours after consuming the contaminated product. The second illness, which tends to begin eight to 16 hours after consuming the contaminated product, is marked by stomach cramps and diarrhea. "Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term illness, exposure to high levels of foodborne B. cereus can cause death," the announcement read. The recall extends to Little Remedies Honey Cough Syrup in a 4 fl oz amber bottle with a UPC of 7-56184-10737-9. The lots included in the recall are as follows: Lot 0039, with an expiration date of 11/2025 Lot 0545, with an expiration date of 01/2026 Lot 0640, with an expiration date of 02/2026 Lot 0450, with an expiration date of 05/2026 Lot 1198, with an expiration date of 12/2026 Furthermore, all lots of the product that are still within expiry are included in the recall. Customers who bought the recalled product are urged to stop using it immediately and contact a doctor in the event of any symptoms that could be associated with using the product. The company will also offer reimbursement to those who purchased items from the recalled lots. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Medtech Products did not disclose how it discovered the bacterial contamination. Any further questions or concerns should be directed to Medtech at medicalaffairs@ on their site, or by phone at (800) 754-8853. Read the original article on People
