Third Listeria Recall: Chicken Pesto Pasta Withdrawn, No Link to Other Outbreaks

Food safety authorities have issued a third separate Listeria-related recall, withdrawing a chicken pasta product due to confirmed contamination whilst clarifying no connection to two other ongoing food safety investigations.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued alert 2025.36 today for a single product following detection of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Authorities have explicitly stated there is currently no evidence linking this recall to either the ready-to-heat meals outbreak or the spinach and mixed leaves recalls under separate investigation.

The recalled product is:

Roast Chicken Basil Pesto Pasta (284g) with use-by date 31/07/2025

The product is being recalled due to the confirmed presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Consumers who have purchased this specific item should not eat it and should dispose of it immediately.

This marks the third distinct Listeria contamination incident currently under FSAI management, following the Ballymaguire Foods ready meals recall (alert 2025.34) and the McCormack Family Farms fresh produce recall (alert 2025.35). The explicit statement about no evidence of connection suggests authorities are investigating multiple separate contamination sources.

The recall affects a single batch identified by the 31/07/2025 use-by date, indicating a more limited scope compared to the extensive multi-product recalls seen with the other incidents. The product's near-term expiry date means affected items may still be in circulation.

Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause mild flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Pregnant women, babies, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems face higher risks from Listeria monocytogenes infections.

The bacteria's incubation period averages three weeks but can range between three and 70 days, meaning symptoms may not appear immediately after consuming contaminated food. Anyone who has eaten the recalled pasta product and feels unwell should consult their GP promptly.

Retailers are removing the implicated batch from sale and displaying recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors must contact affected customers to recall the product and provide point-of-sale notices to retailer customers.

The emergence of a third unrelated Listeria incident highlights ongoing food safety challenges across different sectors of the Irish food industry. The separate alert number (2025.36) confirms this as a distinct investigation from the previous contamination cases.

Consumers should check refrigerators and freezers for the specific chicken pesto pasta product with the 31/07/2025 use-by date and dispose of it without consumption.