Giant Eagle pasta salad recalled for possible listeria contamination

Pasta salad lovers in Western Pennsylvania should double check their refrigerators.

Giant Eagle just issued a recall of its “Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad” sold in the prepared foods department of both Giant Eagle and Market District locations across Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Indiana — for possible listeria contamination.

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems, the FDA said. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

This recall, which was issued Friday, follows the nationwide, multi-state recall of ready-to-eat pasta originating from Nate’s Fine Foods, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

There have been no reports of illness associated with Giant Eagle’s recall to date, the FDA said.

The specific pasta salad was sold starting on Sept. 25, with the following information:

• Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad, weight varies, expiration date Sept. 30 through Oct. 7, UPC 256616000000
• Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad-Small, weight 4 lbs 8 oz, expiration date Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, UPC 246511000000
• Smoked Mozzarella Penne Salad-Large, weight 9 lbs, expiration date Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, UPC 246512000000

Any customers who purchased these products shouldn’t consume them and throw them away. They can return a qualifying receipt to their local Giant Eagle or Market District for a refund, the recall said.

Giant Eagle initiated its consumer recall telephone notification process. The process uses purchase data and consumer phone numbers housed in the MyPerks loyalty card database to alert households that purchased the affected product, according to the FDA.