DOH’s Disease Investigation Branch confirmed through laboratory tests that both individuals were infected with the same outbreak strain of Listeria, according to a DOH spokesperson who emailed with Spectrum News Hawaii. This strain of Listeria was linked to multiple prepared pasta meals, which were recalled. These products are associated with a multi-state Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 27 people and killed six people, including the individuals in Hawaii, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s website, which was last updated on Oct. 30, 2025, and said updates may be delayed due to the government shutdown.

The recalled products include Scott & Jon’s shrimp scampi with linguini bowls supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods, which was sold at Safeway in Hawaii. DOH alerted Hawaii residents about the recall of the latter item via a news release on Oct. 7. Other recalled products that are related to the outbreak, such as Sprouts Farmers Market smoked mozzarella pasta salad, were not sold in Hawaii. 

The state health department issued an alert in early October for a recall of products by Demers Food Group for select lots of Scott & Jon’s Shrimp Scampi with Linguini product, because it contained an ingredient supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods that might have had Listeria monocytogenes contamination. (Photo courtesy of DOH)

With the CDC, DOH investigators collected a list of the foods the two infected Hawaii individuals had purchased and eaten in the month before they got sick. In both cases, there was no evidence that the recalled products had been consumed. Currently, the DOH said it is not known what product caused the listeriosis in either case.

The individual who died was 65 years or older. No details were given about the other individual who was sickened, except the DOH said they were not pregnant. Listeria is most likely to harm pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms usually show up within several days of consuming contaminated food, often with diarrhea, but symptoms may develop up to two months later.

The CDC and other state health departments are currently investigating whether any cases of listeriosis are associated with recalled pre-made pastas or if additional products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the CDC, 13 people have been interviewed nationwide, and of those, 7 reported eating precooked meals, and 4 specifically reported eating chicken fettuccine alfredo. These precooked meals were purchased at the Walmart and Kroger stores. Two people also said they ate deli salads that contained pasta from other stores.