Bettergoods Pasta Recalled Over Listeria Risk: What Consumers Need to Know

Consumers who purchased Bettergoods frozen pasta at Walmart are being urged to check their freezers after Gias Foods expanded a recall involving its Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The latest FDA-posted company announcement, dated October 1, 2026, expands the recall to all lot codes of the affected Bettergoods pasta. The product was distributed nationwide through Walmart stores, and no illnesses had been reported at the time of the announcement.

The recall originally covered two specific lots, but consumers should now treat the broader recall as applying to the product regardless of lot number.

For households that may have the pasta stored in a freezer, checking the packaging before eating it is an important food-safety step.

What Bettergoods Pasta Is Being Recalled?

The recalled product is Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine, a frozen pasta product sold in a 22-ounce yellow plastic package.

The product has UPC number 194346442706 and was distributed nationwide at Walmart stores. The FDA’s latest recall notice says that all lot codes are now included in the recall.

The earlier recall announced September 15 covered two lots:

• L6079C
• L6080C

Those packages carried expiration dates of September 19, 2027, and September 20, 2027, respectively. The expanded October 1 recall supersedes that narrower lot-specific scope.

Consumers should therefore avoid relying only on the two original lot numbers when deciding whether the product is safe to eat.

Why Was the Pasta Recalled?

Gias Foods recalled the pasta because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause listeriosis.

According to the FDA, the recall followed routine sampling conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The testing indicated that the finished product may contain the bacteria.

The company has stopped distribution while it and the FDA investigate the source of the potential contamination.

No illnesses had been reported in connection with the recalled Bettergoods pasta as of the October 1 announcement.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause an infection called listeriosis.

Listeria is particularly important in food safety because it can survive and grow under refrigerated conditions. That means keeping a contaminated product cold does not necessarily eliminate the risk.

The CDC says listeriosis is especially serious for pregnant women, newborns, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems.

For most healthy people, infection may cause relatively mild illness or no serious complications. But invasive listeriosis can become a severe illness when the bacteria spread beyond the digestive system.

This is why food recalls involving Listeria should be taken seriously even when no illnesses have yet been reported.

What Should Consumers Do With the Recalled Pasta?

The simplest step is also the most important: do not eat the recalled product.

Consumers who have Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine should:

1. Check the freezer for the product.
2. Confirm that it is the recalled Bettergoods pasta.
3. Do not taste or serve it.
4. Return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, according to the FDA-posted recall notice.
5. Clean any surfaces or containers that may have come into contact with the product.

The FDA specifically advises consumers not to eat recalled food and to return it to the place where it was purchased.

Consumers with questions about the Bettergoods recall can contact Gias Foods at sales@giasfoods.com.

Why Checking the Freezer Matters

Frozen foods can remain in household freezers for months, making it possible for a recalled product to remain in a home long after it has disappeared from store shelves.

That is particularly relevant in this case because the product carries expiration dates extending into 2027.

Consumers may also forget when a frozen product was purchased or whether it was transferred between freezers or stored alongside other meals.

A good household food-safety routine includes periodically checking food recall notices and inspecting stored products before preparing them.

The broader principles behind this approach are covered in the Complete Guide to Healthy Eating and Balanced Nutrition, which includes food choices and practices that support safer, healthier eating.

What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Infection?

Listeriosis can produce different symptoms depending on the type of illness and the person affected.

According to the CDC, intestinal illness can cause symptoms such as:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

More serious invasive listeriosis can cause:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Loss of balance
• Seizures

Symptoms of invasive illness often begin within about two weeks after eating contaminated food, although timing can vary.

Pregnant people may experience relatively mild symptoms, such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches, while the infection can still have serious consequences for pregnancy or a newborn.

Who Faces the Greatest Risk?

Certain groups are more vulnerable to severe listeriosis.

The CDC identifies the following groups as being at increased risk:

Pregnant women

Listeria infection during pregnancy can cause pregnancy loss, premature delivery or serious infection in a newborn. Symptoms in the pregnant person may be mild, making awareness of a possible food exposure particularly important.

Adults 65 and older

Older adults face a higher risk of invasive listeriosis because immune defenses become less effective with age.

People with weakened immune systems

People whose immune systems are weakened by certain medical conditions or treatments can be more vulnerable to serious Listeria infection.

Families with members in these higher-risk groups may want to be especially careful about checking recalled foods and following food-safety recommendations.

What If You Already Ate the Pasta?

Eating a recalled product does not automatically mean that a person will become sick.

The CDC notes that if someone has eaten food potentially contaminated with Listeria but feels well, most experts do not recommend testing or treatment solely because of the exposure. People should speak with a healthcare provider if they have concerns.

If symptoms develop after eating recalled food, consumers should tell their healthcare provider about the possible exposure.

This information becomes especially important for people who are pregnant, 65 or older, or have weakened immune systems.

People with symptoms such as fever, fatigue and muscle aches should seek medical guidance and mention that they may have eaten recalled food.

How to Reduce the Risk of Foodborne Infections

Food recalls are an important reminder that food safety involves more than simply choosing nutritious foods.

Consumers can reduce their exposure to foodborne pathogens by keeping refrigerators and food-preparation areas clean, separating foods appropriately, following safe storage practices and paying attention to recall announcements.

The Guide to Infectious Disease Prevention provides broader information about everyday practices that can reduce the risk of infections.

Hand hygiene is another basic but important part of food safety. Washing hands before preparing or handling food can reduce the opportunity for germs to move between hands, surfaces and foods.

More information is available in How Hand Hygiene Helps Prevent Infections.

Don’t Forget the Refrigerator and Freezer

Consumers who discover recalled food at home should also consider where the package was stored and what it may have touched.

Listeria can survive in refrigerated environments and can spread from contaminated foods to other foods and surfaces. The FDA recommends cleaning and sanitizing areas that have come into contact with recalled foods when appropriate.

A refrigerator should be kept at 40°F (4°C) or below, while the freezer should be maintained at 0°F (-18°C), according to FDA food-safety guidance.

Cleaning spills promptly and regularly cleaning refrigerator shelves and surfaces can also help reduce opportunities for harmful bacteria to persist.

Personal Hygiene Remains Part of Food Safety

Food handling also connects directly with everyday personal hygiene.

Hands can transfer microorganisms to food, utensils, countertops and refrigerator handles. Regular handwashing before preparing meals and after handling potentially contaminated products is therefore an important protective measure.

The principles discussed in How Personal Hygiene Helps Prevent Illness apply beyond food preparation and are part of a broader approach to reducing everyday exposure to infectious organisms.

Why the Recall Expansion Matters

The change from a recall involving two specific lots to a recall covering all lot codes is an important development for consumers.

Someone who previously checked a package and found that its lot number was different from L6079C or L6080C should not assume that the product is now outside the recall. The October 1 FDA-posted announcement applies to all lot codes of the Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine identified in the recall.

The safest approach is to identify the product by its brand, product name, packaging and UPC rather than relying on the original two lot numbers alone.

What Consumers Should Remember

The Bettergoods pasta recall is a food-safety issue rather than a reason for consumers to avoid frozen pasta or packaged foods generally.

The key point is specific: Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine, sold frozen in 22-ounce yellow packaging with UPC 194346442706, has been recalled nationwide because it may be contaminated with Listeria. The latest FDA-posted announcement expands the recall to all lot codes. No illnesses had been reported as of the October 1 announcement.

Consumers who find the product in their freezer should not eat it and should follow the recall instructions for returning it for a refund. Anyone who develops concerning symptoms after eating recalled food should contact a healthcare professional and mention the possible exposure.

For households, the episode is another reminder that checking food recalls, maintaining good hygiene and keeping food-storage areas clean are practical parts of maintaining a safe and nutritious diet.