Three people have died and more than a dozen others were hospitalized following an outbreak of listeria that has been linked to premade chicken fettuccine alfredo meals sold nationwide at Kroger and Walmart, federal health officials said Wednesday.

The company that made the meals issued a nationwide recall as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they were linked to 17 listeria cases across 13 states.

The outbreak, which includes at least 17 people in 13 states, began last July, officials said. At least 16 people have been hospitalized.