A recall has been issued for frozen supplemental shakes sold to nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities after they were linked to a deadly listeria outbreak, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday.
The listeria outbreak has been ongoing since 2018, with at least 11 reported deaths and 37 hospitalizations out of 38 known cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been working alongside the FDA to investigate the source of the outbreak, which had remained unknown until recently.
The FDA traced the outbreak to Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial frozen shakes, which are commonly used in healthcare settings as meal supplements. These shakes are available in vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate flavors and come in four-ounce cartons.
Cases have been reported in 21 states, including California, Florida, and New York. The outbreak remains active, with 20 new cases reported since January 2024.
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria responsible for listeriosis, can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in vulnerable groups such as:
- Older adults
- Pregnant individuals
- People with weakened immune systems
Symptoms can appear immediately after consuming contaminated food or up to 10 weeks later and may include:
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Muscle aches
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
In severe cases, listeria infections can lead to neurological issues, miscarriage, or life-threatening complications.
Following the FDA’s investigation, Lyons Magnus, the distributor of the shakes, announced a voluntary recall due to potential listeria contamination. The shakes were not sold in retail stores but were distributed primarily to long-term care facilities.
The products were manufactured by Prairie Farms Dairy at a facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In response, Sysco, one of the distributors, has halted all purchases from the affected facility.
“Sysco expresses our most sincere condolences to those affected by this outbreak and their families,” the company said in a statement.
With input from the New York Times and FOX News.
