The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that two ready-to-eat pasta products recently recalled in the United States due to listeria contamination have not been imported or sold in Thailand.
Supattra Boonserm, secretary-general of the FDA, said the agency conducted an investigation after a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the outbreak to Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine and Home Chef Heat and Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.
The outbreak resulted in 27 infections and six deaths in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration lists a number of other microwaveable pasta products that have also been recalled in recent months.
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria responsible for listeriosis, is commonly found in the environment and can survive in a wide range of conditions – from body temperature to refrigeration.
It can easily contaminate food but is destroyed through proper cooking temperatures. Symptoms range from mild flu-like illness to severe complications, especially in pregnant women, newborns and immunocompromised individuals.
Ms Supattra stressed the importance of good food safety practices, urging consumers to refrigerate ready-to-eat meals immediately upon purchase, thoroughly reheat food before consumption, and avoid raw or undercooked foods.
These precautions are essential to prevent infection and ensure public health safety, the FDA secretary-general said.