Ongoing illnesses, deaths reported linked in listeria outbreak

Two additional deaths have been reported in a listeria outbreak that's been linked to recalled ready-to-eat pasta salads and prepared meals sold at major grocery chains including Trader Joe's, Sprouts Farmers Market, Kroger and Walmart, health officials said Thursday.

Seven new illnesses have been reported in three states over the past month, bringing the case count to 27 illnesses reported from 18 states. There have been 25 hospitalizations, six deaths and one fetal loss.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the outbreak, which has been linked to Listeria monocytogenes contamination in precooked pasta supplied by Nate's Fine Foods Inc.

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