Gias Foods of New York has expanded its recall of bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine to all lot codes, pulling every unit distributed nationwide at Walmart stores because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The company previously recalled certain lots of the product. The expansion now covers all product distributed under the bettergoods private label, Walmart's house brand. No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled item is frozen and packaged in 22-ounce yellow plastic bags carrying UPC# 194346442706. Bettergoods is Walmart's newer private-label line, which makes the recall scope national: every store in the chain that carried the SKU is affected, and retailers will need to clear shelves and inventory of all lots rather than isolated date codes.

Routine sampling triggered the action. The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services detected the potential contamination through their routine sampling programs. Gias Foods has ceased distribution of the product while the company and the FDA investigate the cause of the problem.

The company has not disclosed how many units the recall covers or what stage of production the contamination involves.

For foodservice operators and retailers, the mechanics of the recall are straightforward: pull all lots of the 22-ounce frozen SKU bearing the listed UPC, and do not rely on lot-code screening, since the recall no longer distinguishes between production runs.

Listeria carries an unusually long incubation period compared with other foodborne pathogens. Symptoms of listeriosis can take up to 70 days after exposure to develop, meaning anyone who ate the recalled product should monitor themselves for symptoms in the coming weeks.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look, smell, or taste spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Laboratory tests are required to diagnose an infection, which can mimic other illnesses.

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, face particular risk of serious illness, life-threatening infections, complications, and death. Infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, but their infections can result in premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or stillbirth.

Anyone who has eaten the recalled product and developed symptoms should seek medical treatment and tell their doctor about the possible Listeria exposure.

The FDA and Gias Foods have not announced a completion date for the investigation. Until investigators identify the contamination point, further lot expansions or related product actions from the supplier remain possible.