Walmart product recall items list: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a public health alert for a ready-to-eat pasta meal sold at Walmart due to possible listeria contamination, a potentially deadly bacteria. The alert, announced Thursday, affects customers nationwide. Officials are urging consumers to immediately check their freezers for the affected product.

Details of the Walmart Pasta Recall

This alert is linked to a previous listeria outbreak involving recalled chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals in June. According to Fox Business, testing was expanded to include other products, and one sample of the Marketside linguine meal tested positive for listeria. The USDA issued the alert to prevent further illness, as the contamination could potentially be more widespread.

Walmart Recall Listeria: What Is Listeria?

Listeria: Who Is Most At Risk?

While anyone can contract listeriosis, certain groups are more vulnerable. Pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of severe illness. For pregnant women, infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious infection in newborns.

Listeria Symptoms To Watch For

Walmart Recall Listeria: How to Stay Safe

Consumers should check their freezers and pantries for affected products, like the Marketside linguine with beef meatballs, and discard or return them. Proper cooking and avoiding unpasteurized dairy or prepackaged ready-to-eat meals can reduce risk. Always follow food safety guidelines, including cleaning, separating, cooking, and chilling foods.

Walmart Recall Listeria: Recent Trends in Food Recalls

Food recalls over listeria have become increasingly common in recent years. Just this summer, Kraft Heinz pulled back more than 367,000 pounds of Oscar Mayer turkey bacon due to contamination concerns. Now, Walmart’s ready-to-eat pasta joins the list.

Although listeria outbreaks are rare, the USDA emphasizes that even a single positive test can be serious and potentially deadly. For consumers, the safest action is clear: check the product dates, and if the affected pasta is in your freezer, do not risk consuming it.

It has been over two years since Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and his wife, Emma Heming Willis, revealed that the first symptom he showed, which eventually led to his diagnosis, left her stunned. Speaking on Katie Couric’s Next Question, Emma shared more about Bruce’s condition, explaining that in addition to FTD, he has primary progressive aphasia (PPA). “FTD can affect people in three different ways: language, movement, or behavior. These are like the subtypes of FTD. Bruce has primary progressive aphasia, which is known as PPA, so FTD and PPA,” she said. She also revealed the first symptom that made her suspect FTD.

First Symptom of Bruce Willis’ Frontotemporal Dementia

Reflecting on the first symptom that shocked her, Emma Heming Willis explained that it was Bruce’s speech that first signaled something was wrong. “For him, I started noticing his stutter returning. He had a severe stutter as a child, and it began to come back,” she said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think this was a symptom of young-onset dementia.”

She added, “A doctor at UCFF, Bruce Miller, an incredible neurologist, explained that in your 40s, 50s, or 60s—when you’re established in your career and raising a family—any drastic personality changes can signal something happening in the brain that needs to be addressed.”

Sharing more about Bruce’s experience, Emma said, “For Bruce, the stutter returned and words didn’t come as naturally to him, which was wild because he’s all about words. It was confusing. I felt something was just off, it wasn’t the person I married.”

Emma has been caring for Bruce since his diagnosis in early 2023. During last month’s ABC special, Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey with Diane Sawyer, she revealed that she had moved Bruce into a separate single-story home with a full-time care team. “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make so far,” the mother of two explained.

Other Symptoms Of Frontotemporal Dementia

Behavioral Changes (Behavioral Variant FTD)

• Personality and behavior shifts: Acting inappropriately, impulsivity, or showing reduced emotional warmth and empathy.
• Apathy and disinterest: Loss of interest in hobbies, activities, or people once valued.
• Compulsive behaviors: Repeating the same activities or words, developing obsessions, or compulsive eating, including eating from others’ plates.
• Poor judgment and decision-making: Difficulty planning, prioritizing tasks, or making sound decisions.

Language Problems (Primary Progressive Aphasia)

• Difficulty finding words: Trouble retrieving words or naming people and objects.
• Problems with speech production: Speaking more slowly, using simplified sentences, or slurring words.
• Trouble understanding language: Difficulty comprehending what others are saying.
• Difficulty with reading and writing: Challenges in reading comprehension and written expression.

Movement and Physical Symptoms

• Stiff or slow movements: Movements may resemble Parkinson’s disease, with slow or stiff walking.
• Shaky hands: Tremors in the hands may develop.
• Swallowing difficulties: Issues with chewing and swallowing can ociticur.
• Other muscle issues: Muscle weakness, loss, or difficulty controlling everyday movements.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that targets the nervous system. Once symptoms set in, survival is extremely rare. The reassuring fact, however, is that rabies is entirely preventable when prompt and proper care is taken after exposure. To spread awareness about prevention and control, World Rabies Day was established in 2007 as a global initiative. Since then, it has been observed every year to educate people about the risks of rabies and the importance of timely action. Let us take a closer look at the significance of this day.

World Rabies Day 2025 Date: When is World Rabies Day Celebrated

World Rabies Day 2025 Theme

ALSO READ: Doctors Answer The Most Googled Rabies-Related Questions For You

The idea behind the theme is simple. You can play your part by vaccinating pets, learning about prevention methods, and understanding available treatments such as Pre- and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. Me reflects the role of leadership—setting an example, training others, or supporting efforts to eliminate rabies. Community highlights the strength of collective action, from organizing vaccination drives to educating children and their families, and pushing for stronger health programs.

The appeal to “Act Now” carries life-or-death urgency. Rabies is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) that disproportionately affects poorer regions, especially in Africa and Asia. Every nine minutes, someone dies from the virus—yet every one of these deaths can be prevented. Ending rabies is possible, but only if individuals, leaders, and communities act together.

World Rabies Day 2025 Significance

World Rabies Day 2025: Why Vaccination Matters?

Awareness about preventing dog bites and knowing how to respond if one occurs is essential. Rabies does not have to be fatal if all recommended post-exposure measures are followed promptly. To support community understanding, the World Health Organization has created a series of educational films that guide people on bite prevention, immediate care, and the importance of timely vaccination.

Omeprazole is among the most frequently prescribed medicines in the UK. The latest NHS figures show that between 2022 and 2023, over 73 million prescriptions for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, were dispensed in England alone. That means nearly 15% of the population may be taking these drugs.

PPIs are medications designed to reduce stomach acid production. They achieve this by blocking proton pumps, enzymes located in the lining of the stomach that are responsible for generating acid. By lowering acid levels, PPIs help manage conditions such as acid reflux and heartburn, which affect millions of people.

Conditions Managed by PPIs

The role of PPIs extends far beyond occasional heartburn. They are commonly prescribed to treat:

• Indigestion
• Healing stomach ulcers
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD)
• Acid-related inflammation of the food pipe

In addition, omeprazole and other PPIs are sometimes prescribed alongside antibiotics to treat Helicobacter pylori, a stomach infection that can lead to ulcers if left untreated.

Commonly Prescribed PPIs

While omeprazole is the best-known name in this group, the class includes several widely used alternatives:

• Esomeprazole (Nexium)
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• Pantoprazole (Protonix)
• Rabeprazole (AcipHex)

Doctors often select one of these depending on the severity of symptoms, patient tolerance, and how long treatment is expected to last.

NHS Warning on Long-Term Use

Despite their effectiveness, the NHS has issued a clear warning regarding prolonged, unsupervised use of PPIs. On its official website, the health service cautions:

"Do not take omeprazole for longer than two weeks if you bought it without a prescription. See a GP if your symptoms get worse or do not get better."

The reason for this strict guidance is that long-term or unnecessary use of PPIs may carry hidden risks.

The Risk of Clostridioides difficile Infection

One of the most significant risks linked to extended use of PPIs is a higher chance of developing an infection caused by Clostridioides difficile, often shortened to C. diff.

This bacterium can affect the intestines, producing a range of unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms, including:

• Watery or offensive-smelling diarrhoea (sometimes with blood or mucus)
• Abdominal pain or tenderness
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea

In most people, C. diff co-exists harmlessly with other bacteria in the gut. However, when the balance of bacteria is disrupted, particularly after taking antibiotics or acid-reducing drugs like PPIs, it can multiply and release toxins that damage the colon.

The infection is especially risky for older adults, hospital patients, and people with weakened immune systems.

How C. difficile Spreads

The bacteria can also be transmitted through spores that survive on contaminated surfaces, making healthcare settings a common site of infection. This makes it vital to use PPIs under medical supervision, especially for people already vulnerable to infections.

How to Take Omeprazole Safely

Omeprazole is available in tablets, capsules, and liquid form. Some tablets are designed to dissolve in water. The exact dosage and length of treatment depend on the medical condition being treated.

General NHS advice includes:

• Take omeprazole once daily at the same time each morning.
• If prescribed twice daily, take it morning and evening consistently.
• It can be taken with or without food.

Swallow tablets whole with water. Do not crush or chew tablets labelled enteric-coated or gastro-resistant, as this affects how the drug is absorbed.

Patients struggling to swallow pills are advised to speak to a pharmacist, who may suggest alternative formulations.

Duration of Use

While some individuals only need PPIs for a few days, others may require treatment for weeks, months, or even years depending on their condition. This makes it all the more important to balance the benefits against potential risks.

Possible Side Effects

Like all medicines, omeprazole can cause side effects. The most common side effects include:

• Headaches
• Stomach pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Excessive flatulence

Although these are typically mild and temporary, the NHS advises patients to stop driving or using machinery if they experience dizziness or vision problems after taking the drug.

Balancing Benefits and Risks

Medical experts stress that while PPIs like omeprazole are highly effective in treating acid-related conditions, patients should not view them as a “forever” medicine without consultation.

For many, these drugs significantly improve quality of life by controlling painful and disruptive symptoms. But the potential risks of long-term use, particularly regarding gut health and infection, underline the need for ongoing medical guidance.

What Patients Should Do

Health authorities recommend that anyone taking omeprazole or other PPIs should:

• Follow the dosage instructions carefully.
• Avoid prolonged self-medication without consulting a doctor.
• Discuss alternative treatments if symptoms persist.
• Seek medical advice promptly if new symptoms appear, especially diarrhoea, fever, or severe abdominal pain.