Kroger has issued a voluntary recall of two deli pasta salad products because they present a risk to health.
The firm announced on October 4, 2025, that it was recalling its Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad from its Kroger Family of Stores in several states.
It was at the request of the company, based on a notice from Fresh Creative Foods regarding potential contamination of the pasta ingredient by Listeria monocytogenes, that the recall was issued. The recalled ingredient was produced by Roseville, California-based Nate’s Fine Foods.
The products involved were shipped to 1,860 Kroger locations under banners such as Kroger, Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, King Soopers, Payless, Ralphs, and Smith’s. Both the self-service and full-service deli cases were involved.
Kroger has confirmed that it has pulled the affected salads from all store shelves and initiated its customer recall notification system. The system notifies consumers who might have bought the recalled products through register receipt tape messages and email alerts.
Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that can be severely detrimental to the health, particularly of specific groups. For young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immunity, it can trigger severe and even life-threatening infections. Healthy individuals might only show mild and flu-like signs like high fever, headache, nausea, stiffness, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea, but the infection can be wreaking havoc on pregnant women in the form of miscarriages and stillbirths.
To date, no cases of illness or injury associated with the recalled products have been reported. Kroger instructed consumers who have potentially bought the salads not to eat them and rather return them to their store for a full refund or exchange. Anybody concerned about their health should seek the advice of a healthcare professional immediately.
The problem started when Kroger was informed on September 26 by Fresh Creative Foods that Nate’s Fine Foods had recalled its bowtie pasta because it had possible Listeria contamination. That first recall involved 24 Smith’s stores in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada.
But on October 1, Fresh Creative Foods notified Kroger of a wider recall by Nate’s Fine Foods, this time involving further dates of bowtie pasta as well as penne pasta products. Consequently, Kroger widened its recall to the both Basil Pesto Bowtie Salad and Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad.
| Product | UPC | CODE | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| BASIL PESTO BOWTIE PASTA SALAD | 217573-10000 | SOLD ON: SEP 6 2025 thru OCT 2 2025 |
Random Weight sold at deli service counter |
| BASIL PESTO BOWTIE PASTA SALAD | 217573-20000 | SOLD ON: SEP 6 2025 thru OCT 2 2025 |
Random Weight Grab-n-Go packages sold in Deli Dept. |
| SMOKED MOZZARELLA PENNE SALAD | 227573-10000 | SOLD ON: AUG 29 2025 thru OCT 2 2025 |
Random Weight sold at deli service counter |
| SMOKED MOZZARELLA PENNE SALAD | 227573-10000 | SOLD ON: AUG 29 2025 thru OCT 2 2025 |
Random Weight Grab-n-Go packages sold in Deli Dept. |
The firm assured consumers that it is collaborating closely with suppliers and food safety agencies to make sure that no contaminated products will continue to be on the shelves. The firm also reiterated its continuous commitment to consumer safety and openness in the recall process.
Consumers with inquiries regarding the recall may call Kroger’s customer service department at 1-800-KROGERS. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time and on weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The recall is still precautionary as of today, but they emphasize its seriousness due to the possible hazards of Listeria contamination. People are advised to look for recall notices and inform themselves regularly through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Kroger’s official website.
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