Deadly listeria outbreak linked to shakes used at nursing homes, hospitals. Florida impact

Yahoo

25-02-2025

A nationwide recall has been issued for frozen nutritional shakes linked to a deadly listeria outbreak, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The shakes were sold to hospitals and long-term care institutions, including nursing homes.
As of Feb. 24, the FDA reported 38 people had been infected in 21 states, including Florida. Twelve have died.
On Feb. 22, Magnus LLC initiated a recall of 4 oz. Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes.
The shakes came in a variety of flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and strawberry banana.
Best buy dates were Feb. 21, 2025, through Feb. 21, 2026.
The frozen supplemental shakes were manufactured by Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. — Prairie Farms — in Fort Wayne, Indiana, under brands Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial.
The FDA is investigating the multistate outbreak of listeria in frozen supplement shakes.
As of Feb. 24, a total of 38 people have been infected with the outbreak strain in 21 states, including Florida.
Of the 38 people for whom information is available, 37 people have been hospitalized, and 12 deaths have been reported, the FDA reported.
"The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses," the CDC said.
"This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the deaths associated with the outbreak occurred in:
California
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
North Carolina
New York
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
The shakes were sold nationwide to institutional settings, such as long-term care facilities, including hospitals, the FDA said.
Of the 38 people for whom information is available, 34 — 89% — reported living in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick.
Records reviewed from facilities indicated nutritional shakes were available to residents, the FDA said.
Those infected during the outbreak ranged in age from 43 to 101, with a median age of 78, according to the CDC.
There are 21 states with known listeria outbreaks related to the recall, as of Feb. 24, according to the FDA. States with cases include:
Alabama
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
North Carolina
Nevada
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Washington
West Virginia
The Centers for Disease Control had previously begun tracking the same outbreak in 2018, with 20 cases cropping up throughout 2024 and 2025.
"Sick people were residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes and the likely source was a food served in those types of institutions, but there was not enough information to identify a specific food," the CDC said.
"In February 2025, after traceback identified a product of interest, the outbreak strain was found in environmental samples from Prairie Farms."
"Distributors and foodservice customers, including hospitals and long-term care facilities who purchased or received recalled Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes should not sell or serve these products," the FDA said.
"Carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that they touched and follow FDA's safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces."
Listeria are bacteria that can contaminate many foods, the CDC said. People who eat contaminated food can get infected with the bacteria.
"The disease-causing bacteria can be found in many places, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals," the FDA said.
Signs and symptoms of listeriosis depend on the person infected, and the body part affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
"Listeriaare most likely to harm pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems."
According to the Mayo Clinic, if you develop a listeria infection, symptoms could include:
Fever
Chills
Muscle aches
Nausea
Diarrhea
"Symptoms might begin a few days after you've eaten contaminated food, but it can take 30 days or more before the first signs and symptoms of infection begin," the Mayo Clinic said.
If the listeria infection spreads to your nervous system, signs and symptoms can include:
Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion or changes in alertness
Loss of balance
Convulsions
Especially for those in high-risk groups, the CDC offers the following suggestions to avoid the listeria bacteria found in food. Do not eat:
Unpasteurized soft cheeses, such as queso fresco and brie.
Unheated cheeses sliced at a deli.
Unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs, and fermented or dry sausages.
Premade deli salads, such as coleslaw and potato, tuna, or chicken salad.
Refrigerated pâté or meat spreads.
Refrigerated smoked fish.
Raw or lightly cooked sprouts.
Cut melon left out for more than 2 hours. One hour if it's exposed to temperatures hotter than 90 degrees.
Cut melon in refrigerator for more than a week.
Raw (unpasteurized) milk, yogurt, and ice cream.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Listeria causes FDA recall in supplement shakes at hospitals