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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
14 Deadliest Food Recalls To Sweep The US
Food recalls, or the removal of products from supermarket shelves, are usually issued when an item is found to pose a health risk to consumers. This can occur for a range of reasons, including mislabeling and contamination with bacteria or a foreign object like metal or plastic. Unfortunately, in 2024, the U.S. experienced a significant increase in foodborne illnesses caused by contaminated goods, with approximately 300 safety alerts linked to nearly 1,400 illnesses. Of these cases, 487 required hospitalization and 19 resulted in death, doubling the number of similar incidents reported in 2023 (via U.S. Public Interest Research Group). While most food recalls are precautionary, others are announced in response to confirmed outbreaks that have already landed consumers in the hospital or even killed them. When it comes to product withdrawals linked to severe illness or death, by far the most common culprits are listeria, salmonella, and E. coli. These pathogens can be especially dangerous to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Ready to find out about the deadliest food recalls to hit the U.S.? Take a look at our list of the 14 most devastating outbreaks and headline-grabbing recalls in history. Read more: 14 Foods You Should Never Freeze Unlike most other recalled food products, Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes never ended up on the supermarket shelves. Instead, they were distributed primarily to hospitals and residential care facilities. This meant that once the news of a listeria contamination broke in February 2025, the affected individuals were among some of the most vulnerable. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the outbreak had such a devastating effect. By May 16, the supplement shakes had been linked to at least 14 deaths and 41 hospitalizations. Manufactured by Prairie Farms Dairy (which raised the alarm) and distributed by Lyons Magnus, the frozen supplement shakes affected people in 21 states. Overall, 17 Lyons Magnus products were suspected to have been tainted with listeria, including ReadyCare Frozen Vanilla Shake, ReadyCare Frozen Chocolate Shake, and Imperial Frozen Strawberry Shake. The consumption of food contaminated with listeria can have serious consequences, as demonstrated by this tragic outbreak. Even healthy individuals can be affected, often suffering from fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. The situation can become much more serious for high-risk groups, including children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems — even leading to death. In June 2024, the FDA initiated an investigation into Diamond Shruumz, when it became clear that several individuals who had consumed the brand's products — including microdosing chocolate bars, micro-dose and mega-dose/extreme gummies, and infused cones — had become ill. More specifically, consumers had reported experiencing a range of concerning symptoms including seizures, loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, and abnormal heart rates. In total, the edibles were linked to 180 illnesses, 73 hospitalizations, and possibly three deaths. The products had been distributed nationwide through brick-and-mortar stores and mail order services. While it has never been clear what ingredient or ingredients in the products caused people to become unwell, the initial stages of the investigation focused on muscimol, which was used in some of the products. Muscimol is a psychoactive substance found in amanita muscaria mushrooms. The edibles were also found to contain acetylpsilocin, psilocin, pregabalin, desmethoxyyangonin, dihydrokavain, kavain, and ibotenic acid in various doses and compositions, all of which could have contributed to the adverse reactions reported by consumers. Boar's Head claims to take food safety very seriously, stating on its website: "Strict food safety standards and protocols are embedded in our processes and procedures, which extend from our manufacturing facilities to our suppliers and partners" (via Boar's Head). Unfortunately, these lofty promises didn't align with reality when the company had to recall its deli meats in 2024, following concerns over listeria contamination. The recall affected more than 70 Boar's Head ready-to-eat deli products, amounting to 7 million pounds of meat and poultry. The products had been sold across the U.S., as well as the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. On September 26, 2024, CNN reported that the listeria-tainted deli products had been linked to 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths in 19 different states. All in all, these numbers were probably higher, as symptoms of listeria can take up to 10 weeks to develop. In 2025, Boar's Head was ordered to pay a $3.1 million class action settlement as compensation for customers who bought the recalled products between May 10 and August 12, 2024. The company also faced wrongful death lawsuits, one of which involved a Holocaust survivor who died after consuming the contaminated products. The Rizo -Lopez recall was so alarming that in October 2024, a federal court issued a permanent injunction against the company, barring it from manufacturing certain food products until it meets federal food safety laws. The recall, which was initiated in February of the same year after a deadly outbreak of listeria, involved dozens of products. These included cheese, yogurt, and sour cream items, such as Tío Francisco Centroamericana, Tío Francisco Crema Mexicana, and San Carlos Queso Crema. The products were sold in a range of stores, including El Super, Northgate Gonzalez, El Rancho, Vallarta, Food City, and La Michoacana. The FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Jim Jones, highlighted the public health risk of the contamination at the time, saying, "Producers of fresco-type cheeses are responsible for producing safe food and complying with food safety laws and regulations. Through this unfortunate outbreak, we see what can happen when a company fails to meet their legal responsibilities" (via Food Safety News). These weren't just empty words. The impact of this listeria contamination was truly devastating, resulting in 23 hospitalizations, two deaths, and one miscarriage. Characterized by sweet, orange flesh and a rough, tan-hued rind, cantaloupes are a popular addition to smoothies, fruit salads, and desserts. Unfortunately, in 2023, cantaloupes received a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons, when they were linked to a salmonella outbreak. In fact, the contaminated fruit was likely responsible for 407 illnesses, 158 hospitalizations, and six deaths. The recall affected whole cantaloupes sold under a range of brand names, such as TruFresh, Crown Jewels Produce, Pacific Trellis, and Malichita/Z Farms. Several products that included cut cantaloupes were also affected by the recall, like fruit cups, clamshells, and trays. The onset of salmonella infection usually takes place within 12 to 72 hours of the consumption of a tainted product, with most healthy adults recovering from the infection within seven days. The symptoms of the foodborne bacteria include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. Children, the elderly, and people with weak immunity may experience more severe symptoms, which in some cases may even lead to hospitalization and death. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, fresh produce is a supermarket staple that is supposed to offer a healthier alternative to processed or packaged food. This makes it all the more shocking when fruit and vegetables cause illness, as in the salmonella outbreak that prompted a major cucumber recall in 2015. The cucumbers, which were imported from Mexico by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, sickened more than 900 people in 40 different states. Of those infected after eating the tainted cucumbers, a staggering 204 people had to be hospitalized, with six people in Arizona, California, Oklahoma, and Texas succumbing to the infection — including a 99-year-old woman. The cucumbers were sold under the brand name "Limited Edition." At the end of the day, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce pulled 174 bulk-packed containers of the produce from grocery stores around the country. To explore similar outbreaks involving fresh fruit and vegetables, take a look at our article on produce recalls that affected millions. While only 22 people were reported to have been sickened by Frescolina Marte's listeria-contaminated Ricotta Salata, three of those affected were newborns. In addition, the incident ended up leading to four deaths. These numbers highlight that even a relatively low number of listeria infections can result in devastating outcomes. Forever Cheese announced a recall of Frescolina Marte Ricotta Cheese on September 10, 2012 — the recalled product had been manufactured in Italy by Fattorie Chiarappa. A few days later, Forever Cheese expanded the recall, pulling all other Fattorie Chiarappa cheeses off the grocery store shelves. The cheeses had also been shipped to wholesalers and restaurants across the U.S. At the time, the FDA placed Fattorie Chiarappa on Import Alert, banning it from importing products into the U.S. until the company could demonstrate its products were free of listeria. For more cases of recalls that involved dairy, don't miss our article on cheese recalls that affected millions. The cantaloupe recall of 2011 was no joke — the contaminated fruit ended up being tied to 147 cases of illness and 33 deaths. The alert was raised on September 14 when Jensen Farms announced a recall of its Rocky Ford cantaloupes after investigations revealed they were the likely cause of an outbreak of listeriosis. Other brands that sourced their cantaloupes from Jensen Farms, including Carol's Cuts and Fruit Fresh, followed suit, issuing their own recalls of the tainted melons. According to reports, the Jensen Farms facilities had sanitation problems that likely led to the contamination, including standing pools of water and poorly sanitized equipment. In 2013, federal prosecutors brought charges against the owners of Jensen Farms, Eric and Ryan Jensen, for their role in the fiasco. More specifically, the duo was charged with six counts that led to the introduction of the contaminated cantaloupes into commercial circulation. At the end of the day, each defendant received five years of probation, six months of home detention, 100 hours of community service, and had to pay $150,000 in restitution to the victims of this tragedy. In October 2010, the Texas Department of State Health Services instructed SanGar Fresh Cut Produce to issue a market withdrawal of all products distributed from its San Antonio plant since January. The agency also ordered the company to cease all production due to "an immediate and serious threat to human life." The decision came after celery processed at the facility tested positive for listeria monocytogenes. The listeriosis outbreak resulted in 10 cases of illness, five of which proved fatal. The infections were linked to fresh produce that had been cut and distributed in sealed packages. The infections occurred in Texas, with all affected individuals reporting serious health problems. In an ironic twist, in August of the previous year, the owner of SanGar, Kenneth Sanquist, spoke to a San Antonio TV station about the facility's stringent safety standards. "All we're saying is everyone should have that standard. There is an entire process that we have to follow on a daily basis, if you miss a step or two steps or try to take a shortcut ... children could get very sick," Sanquist noted (via Food Safety News). The peanut butter salmonella contamination that came to light in 2008 resulted in one of the largest food recalls in U.S. history, involving over 3,600 products from different companies. The tainted peanut butter and peanut paste were traced back to the Peanut Corporation of America, which supplied the products to the affected companies. In total, a staggering 714 people in 46 states fell ill after eating the contaminated products. The salmonella outbreak also claimed nine lives. The peanut butter disaster resulted in multiple civil lawsuits against the Peanut Corporation of America. For instance, the family of one nursing home resident who died after consuming the peanut butter filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company. Furthermore, in 2015 Stewart Parnell, the former CEO of the Peanut Corporation of America, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his role in the deadly outbreak. Significantly, investigations revealed that Parnell had knowingly shipped products contaminated with salmonella. Some of the company's other former executives also received prison sentences for their involvement in the cover-up. Fresh greens are supposed to nourish your body, not make you feel unwell. Unfortunately, that's what happened when Dole Food Company issued a recall for E. coli-contaminated spinach in 2006. More precisely, the nationwide alert involved bagged baby spinach under 28 brand names — all sourced from Natural Selection Foods. The investigation identified four spinach fields as potential points of origin of the contaminated produce. The specific strain of E. coli that contaminated the spinach was found in nearby cattle fields and in a wild boar killed in the area, suggesting that animal waste could have affected the produce. The E. coli outbreak linked to the spinach resulted in 205 cases of foodborne illness, 104 hospitalizations, and four deaths. A total of 31 people also suffered hemolytic uremic syndrome, an infection caused by the E. coli bacteria that causes blood clotting and can affect the kidneys and other organs. From classic cheesecakes to pound cakes, Sara Lee is most famous for its baked goods and frozen desserts. However, the company also sells deli meats like Mesquite Smoked Turkey and Honey Ham. It's the deli part of the business that made headlines in 1998, when the brand's meats and hot dogs were linked to a deadly outbreak of listeriosis. The products were manufactured by Sara Lee's subsidiary, Bil Mar Foods. Sara Lee ended up pulling a massive 35 million pounds of meat and hot dogs from supermarket shelves, which eventually became linked to 80 cases of listeriosis, 15 deaths, and six miscarriages. An investigation revealed that Bil Mar Foods managers had knowledge of worrying listeria levels at the plant as early as eight months before the outbreak. Despite this, they continued to distribute the potentially tainted products. In 2001, Sara Lee pleaded guilty to one charge of supplying "adulterated poultry and meat products." The company ended up paying a $200,000 fine, committing $3 million to fund food safety studies at Michigan State, and paying $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit involving meat it had supplied to the Department of Defense. Recalls don't always involve store-purchased goods — sometimes, it's food served at restaurants that triggers nationwide health alerts. A case in point is the Jack in the Box hamburger recall that took place in 1993 following an outbreak of E. coli. More precisely, the infection was traced back to ground beef burger patties produced by Von Companies and used in fast food meals prepared at Jack in the Box, although no slaughterhouses responsible for the contaminated meat were ever identified. The contaminated burgers were sold at 73 Jack in the Box outlets in Washington, Idaho, California, and Nevada. The E. coli contamination sickened more than 700 people and resulted in 171 hospitalizations and four fatalities. One of the worst parts of this tragedy is that Foodmaker — the parent company of Jack in the Box — had been warned that its burgers were being undercooked. Still, the company chose not to cook them to the mandated 155 degrees Fahrenheit, claiming that this would make the beef overly tough. In fact, the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli tragedy resulted in food safety protocol reforms, with E. coli infections becoming a reportable disease. The incident also led to more thorough meat and poultry inspections. Finally, the cooking guidelines for ground meat were changed, raising the required temperature from 140 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit. From brie and camembert to queso fresco and cotija, soft cheeses are well known for their creamy texture and mild yet rich flavor. Unfortunately, in 1985, these popular dairy products became the subject of extensive investigation during a listeria outbreak in California. The contamination was linked back to Jalisco Mexican Products, prompting a massive product recall. Almost 150 cases of listeria infection were tied to the Mexican style cheeses, 93 of which affected pregnant women and young children. In total, 28 individuals succumbed to the infection, including 18 adults and 10 babies. The listeria contamination also resulted in 20 miscarriages. Facing scrutiny over the 1985 outbreak, Jalisco Mexican Products pointed the finger at its milk supplier, Alta-Dena Certified Dairy, alleging the contamination stemmed from the company's raw milk. Upon further inspection, investigators found that the company's processing plant was receiving more milk than it could safely pasteurize. It's no secret that unpasteurized milk can spread dangerous bacteria, including listeria. At the end of the day, both Jalisco's owner and the company's cheesemaker pleaded "no contest" to misdemeanor charges, receiving relatively short jail sentences and fines totaling around $48,000. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
13 Of The Biggest Frozen Food Recalls Of All Time
While you may have thought frozen foods were safer, it turns out that some of the biggest recalls of all time have been frozen food recalls. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong with frozen food. Like with any other food, they can end up with undeclared allergens, or foreign objects can find their way into the foods at the factory. However, what you may not have realized is that many bacteria and viruses don't die at the temperatures they encounter in your freezer. So, if you're not cooking frozen foods or not cooking them long enough, you can still be at risk from pathogens that end up in frozen foods. While there have been plenty more frozen food recalls than the ones listed, these were the biggest in terms of pounds of food recalled, number of people hospitalized, and even lives lost. Yet, many times, it seems that routine food inspections may have caught recallable issues before they became tragic events. Our list of the 13 biggest frozen food recalls of all time starts in 2025 with the most recent large frozen food recalls and goes all the way back to 2007. Read more: 11 Frozen Chicken Entrees, Ranked Worst To Best The February 2025 Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplement Shakes are the deadliest on our list. A total of 17 flavors of shakes were recalled because of possible contamination with listeria monocytogenes, which turned out to be deadly in this case. So, it was a "big" recall in terms of lives lost rather than physical quantities of food recalled. One thing that made this outbreak so deadly was the fact that all the shakes had been sent to long-term care facilities. With two of the categories of people who are most at risk from listeria outbreaks being people who are age 65 and older and those who are immunocompromised, you can start to understand what a nightmare this outbreak became. Another problem is that listeria can survive and even grow in temperatures as low as 31 degrees Fahrenheit. Some frozen foods with listeria don't cause such havoc because they're ultimately cooked before consumption, but shakes are consumed cold. The tainted products were manufactured by Prairie Farms and distributed by Lyons Magnus all over the U.S. Thus, 42 people from 21 different states fell ill. Of the people that it sickened, 41 ended up in the hospital, and 14 died by the end of the ordeal. Interestingly, Lyons Magnus had a previous beverage recall in 2022 after the FDA found various pathogens in its facility, but this is the first recall that has resulted in deaths. The next big frozen food recall on our list is the BrucePac one in October 2024, which involved over 11.7 million pounds of frozen ready-to-eat meat and poultry products being recalled over listeria concerns. The products had made their way to kitchens making food for large quantities of people, such as schools and institutions, as well as restaurants. Plus, there were plenty of products in the recall that were available in the freezer section of regular grocery stores, especially ready-to-eat frozen TV dinners, like ones from Atkins, Boston Market, Target, Michelina's, Trader Joe's, and many more. A recall was enacted after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) found listeria in some of the ready-to-eat products at BrucePac in Durant, Oklahoma, during routine inspections. The products FSIS was concerned about were ones that had been produced during a period of a little over four months between May 31 and October 8, 2024. Not only does listeria pose a large risk to people over the age of 65 and those with compromised immune systems, but it's also a big risk to pregnant people and the unborn. Luckily, FSIS doesn't list any related hospitalizations or deaths related to this particular listeria recall. In March 2023, over 325,000 pounds of Scenic Fruit Company frozen organic strawberries were recalled for their potential of being laced with hepatitis A. The strawberries had gone out to several grocery stores and clubs, like Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe's, under six different brand names. The hepatitis A virus doesn't die off when frozen and needs to be heated to at least 185 degrees Fahrenheit to inactivate it. So, unless people cooked their frozen strawberries, eating them was quite risky. Ultimately, at least 10 people ended up catching hepatitis A from the strawberries, resulting in four hospitalizations in four states. The strawberries had all been imported from a farm in Baja California, Mexico. The farm was the source of a genetically identical hepatitis A outbreak in 2022, which triggered proactive disease prevention strategies for the growers in the region as well as FDA import screening strategies for crops coming from that region in the future. Rather than the Nestlé Hot Pockets recall in January of 2021 being about the potential for disease, nearly 763,000 pounds were recalled because of foreign object contamination. Several customers contacted the company to complain about finding glass or hard plastic in their Hot Pockets. Luckily, Nestlé only had to recall 12 packs of Premium Pepperoni Pizza Garlic Butter Crust Hot Pockets with four different batch codes from products produced between November 13 and 16 of 2020. A total of four customers contacted Nestlé after they bit down on what appeared to be clear plastic or glass. The company enacted a recall for fear that the pieces could cause choking or lacerations if big or sharp enough. Although there was the potential for worse injuries or even death, thankfully, only one customer reported a minor mouth injury associated with the glass or plastic that was in the Hot Pocket they were eating. In May of 2019, Conagra Brands in Russellville, Arkansas, recalled close to 2.1 million pounds of P.F. Chang's frozen food entrées from food shelves because it failed to list milk among its ingredients. Since the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act went into effect in 2006, we've seen a lot more food recalls happen because of labels that don't include food allergen warning information. The USDA noticed the mislabeling problem when they were doing a routine label check. Since milk wasn't listed among the ingredients for P.F. Chang's Home Menu Chicken Pad Thai and P.F. Chang's Chicken Fried Rice, it triggered a recall. The offending items had production dates that spanned a little over six months between October 1, 2018, and April 11, 2019. All in all, more than 1 million products were included in the recall. Luckily, there were no reports of anyone allergic to milk who became sick from eating these products. Another frozen food recall related to foreign object contamination was the 2018 Wayne Farms ready-to-eat frozen chicken recall. By the time the recall was complete, nearly 439,000 pounds of frozen chicken had been recalled. A customer called to complain about finding metal pieces in their chicken on July 27, but the recall didn't take place until September 5, 2018. The Decatur, Alabama, company ultimately ended up recalling its frozen cooked chicken that it had produced between July 4 and July 17. Luckily, no other customers beyond the first one ever called in to complain about finding metal in their chicken. Still, it was a Class I recall (the most serious type) because of the potential for harm from anyone choking on or being injured by any other metal pieces that might have ended up in the chicken. It's certainly better to recall potentially dangerous food rather than hope that one piece of metal was the only one. A later Wayne Farms recall in 2022 was about undercooked chicken. So, at least the metal problem seems to have been a one-time thing. An undeclared allergen was the cause of the June 2017 Maxi Canada frozen breaded chicken recall. Over 4.2 million pounds of frozen chicken were recalled because Maxi Canada didn't mention on the label that the products might contain milk. However, the problem began with a supplier rather than at Maxi Canada. Basically, Maxi Canada heard from one of their suppliers that the ingredients Maxi Canada had used for its breading might contain milk. In total, the ingredient slipup affected sixteen different products that weren't labeled as possibly containing milk. The recalled products included everything from frozen chicken fries and patty fritters to and chicken strips and nuggets of various shapes. No customers ever contacted Maxi Canada about a milk allergen issue from having eaten the frozen breaded chicken. However, undeclared allergens are a matter of health concern that triggers recalls to avoid potential tragedy. The CRF Frozen Foods recall of frozen fruits and vegetables in April of 2016 is the largest recall on our list of all-frozen items, considering the sheer number of pounds recalled. This recall involved around 47 million pounds of frozen items, 358 specific products, and 42 brands that had the potential of being contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Not only did the recall result in several hospitalizations, but there were also several deaths. The recalled vegetable brands had listeria strains that were genetically related to the strains infecting those who had become sick. So, the link was officially confirmed through genetic matching. All nine of the people who became sick from the contaminated food in four states were hospitalized, and three of them died. However, only one fatality was officially attributed to listeria. In July of 2015, Aspen Foods enacted a frozen chicken product recall because of a salmonella outbreak. At first, the recall was for nearly 545,000 pounds of frozen chicken, but it eventually reached around 1.9 million pounds of chicken. The products included raw chicken as well as breaded and stuffed chicken products. You may not have realized that salmonella can survive in frozen chicken, but it can, even when stored at temperatures well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. While temperatures of 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill it, salmonella can persist on raw chicken surfaces and potentially spread to other foods or surfaces before cooking. With salmonella having the potential to affect the elderly and infants as well as immunocompromised people fairly strongly, the recall was quite necessary. Fortunately, the outbreak was only limited to Minnesota, and only two of the five people who were sickened had to be hospitalized, with no reported deaths. What started out as a recall of nearly 282,000 pounds of frozen pretzel hot dogs in November of 2014 ultimately turned into a 1.2-million-pound recall. The problem with these products was that all of them failed to list soy lecithin as an ingredient on the label, and it's a known allergen. Soy lecithin is derived from soybeans, which definitely raised concerns for sensitive individuals. While soy lecithin wasn't an actual ingredient mixed into the pretzel hot dogs, FSIS noticed during its inspections that the company was using a non-stick product with soy lecithin on surfaces to help keep the pretzel hotdogs from sticking. With soy lecithin having the potential to cause an allergic reaction, City Line Manufacturing had to enact a recall. Affected brands with tainted pretzel dogs included Auntie Anne's, West Creek, Kunzler, Berks, Nathan's, and City Line. The Hallmark/Westland beef recall of 2008 is notorious for being the biggest meat recall in U.S. history, with a whopping 143 million pounds of beef involved in the recall. While all the recalled beef wasn't frozen, some of it was, making it necessary to include it on our list. Despite it being such a landmark recall, nobody became sick or died from the affected beef, which is a wonder since some of the meat came from sick cows. The recall ended up being so big because it covered meat that had been produced any time between February 2006 and February 2008. Within that long time span, most of the meat -- headed off to be part of school lunches -- had probably already been consumed. The Humane Society released a video in January of 2008 showing workers at Hallmark/Westland not only mistreating cattle but especially the ones that were also too sick to walk, indicating a potential for mad cow disease. In such cases, the company was required to have a USDA veterinarian inspect the animals and ensure they were safe to slaughter and sell for consumption but failed to do so. After the recall, the company went bankrupt, and two of the employees were charged with felony and misdemeanor-level charges, including ones related to animal cruelty. The Humane Society still took the company to court, and Hallmark/Westland ended up having to pay a $317 million settlement on a $497 million judgment. Another company that went bankrupt after its enormous food recall was Topps Meat Company, which recalled 21.7 million pounds of frozen beef patties in 2007. Before the recall, the company had been in business for 67 years. However, 40 people getting sick from an E. coli outbreak in eight states was the nail in the coffin for Topps. While the outbreak could have been deadly, no deaths were reported. With no requirement for meatpackers like Topps to test products for pathogens like E. coli, it was an outbreak that was easy to miss. Plus, there was a concern that the company might have been carrying over meat from one day to the next, causing the E. coli to keep spreading. So, the recall covered frozen meat produced over the span of an entire year, which is what made the recall so big. Freezing also doesn't kill E. coli, but cooking the hamburger patties to temperatures of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit does, which likely means those who became sick didn't eat thoroughly cooked meat. An earlier recall might have prevented at least some of the 40 illnesses that occurred. E. coli is hardest on those under age five or over age 65, as well as people with compromised immune systems. Although officials from the Agriculture Department knew Topps beef was contaminated, it didn't order a recall for 18 days. By that time, 30 people had already gotten sick. The highest number of hospitalizations from any of the recalls on our list happened from frozen pot pies contaminated with salmonella in 2007. These were sold under the Banquet name as well as several grocery store brand names, like Albertson's and Kroger. The fact that 401 people in 41 states ended up with salmonellosis after consuming undercooked pot pies makes you pause and consider just how many times you've eaten food from the freezer that wasn't quite cooked all the way through. Further, 108 of the people who became sick ended up in the hospital, which was 32% of them. One problem with the microwave instructions on these pot pies from ConAgra Foods, Inc. was that they didn't account for the varying wattage of different microwaves. Cooking times for one microwave won't necessarily work for all microwaves, which can leave some parts still cold or even frozen. However, there were some other problems here as well. For one, the packaging for these Banquet pot pies had different cooking times listed in different areas. Other problems fell to consumers, like not realizing the product continues to cook during the cool down time you're supposed to allow before eating. Still, some consumers reported cooking more than one pot pie at a time in the microwave, using the same cooking time for single pie or cooking them in the oven when there wasn't an oven cooking time listed on the packaging. Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Frozen supplemental shakes are being recalled
MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) – Certain Lyons Magnus products are being recalled after a possible contamination of Listeria monocytogenes, Mesa County Public Health announced Tuesday. The products are frozen supplement shakes in 4-ounce cartons under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brand names. They were distributed nationwide, mostly to long-term care facilities, and were not available for retail sale, MCPH said. Descriptions of the recalled products are: ReadyCare frozen vanilla shake with a best by date of 022125 to 022126. ReadyCare frozen chocolate shake with a best by date of 022125 to 022126. ReadyCare frozen strawberry shake with a best by date of 022125 to 022126. Imperial frozen vanilla shake with a best by date of 022125 to 022126. Imperial frozen chocolate shake with a best by date of 022125 to 022126. Imperial frozen strawberry shake with a best by date of 022125 to 022126. Listeria can cause serious infection in young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and their newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and gastrointestinal issues. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said 38 illnesses and 11 deaths have been associated with the strain of Listeria monocytogenes possibly found in the frozen supplement shakes. MCPH said consumers who have any of the products should quarantine them. For more information, contact Lyons Magnus at frozenshakerecall@ This is the second recall in as many days. Mesa County Public Health announced a recall from Nature Mills involving rice mixes, soups and spices due to concerns about undeclared allergens. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indianapolis Star
17-05-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
CDC and FDA: Deaths in listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplement shakes rise to 14
The death toll has risen in a multistate listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplement shakes, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The increase in deaths from the outbreak comes nearly three months after Lyons Magnus, a food service industry provider headquartered in Fresno, California, recalled 4-ounce cartons of Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes for possible risk of listeria contamination. The products were produced by Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lyons Magnus distributed the products, under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brand names, throughout the U.S., primarily to long-term care facilities. The products were not sold at retail stores and none of the shakes should be available on the market, the FDA said. The FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 38 people who were sickened by listeria poisoning and 12 people who died across 21 states, the agencies said in February 2025. Of the 38 people sickened, 37 were hospitalized. On Friday, May 16, The CDC and FDA increased the number of deaths to 14 and the number of those sickened to 42 (41 were hospitalized). The outbreak investigation has ended, the agencies said. USA TODAY Recall Database: Search vehicle, product and food recalls The CDC began investigating an outbreak of illnesses among residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes in 2018 – with continued investigation of cases in 2021 and 2023 – but could not find enough evidence to identify a food culprit. When six new illnesses were reported in October 2024, the CDC reopened the investigation. In February 2025, the frozen shakes were identified as a possible cause, and the CDC took samples from Prairie Farms, which were found to contain the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. These are the 21 states the FDA and CDC reported having known listeria outbreaks related to this recall: Listeriosis, or listeria poisoning, is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. About 1,600 people get sick and 260 die each year from listeriosis, according to the CDC. Most people can be infected with listeria and not become seriously ill. But infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Listeriosis can also lead to cause death in people over the age of 65 or those with weakened immune systems. Signs and symptoms of listeriosis can appear as soon as hours after eating contaminated food and as long as weeks later, the USDA says. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider. Among the symptoms: Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
CDC and FDA: Deaths in listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplement shakes rise to 14
CDC and FDA: Deaths in listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplement shakes rise to 14 Residents in long-term care facilities were given frozen supplement shakes found to be contaminated with a strain of Listeria monocytogenes. The outbreak sickened at least 42 and led to 14 deaths. Show Caption Hide Caption FDA will reduce food and drug inspections due to federal layoffs FDA scales back routine inspections due to support staff layoffs, prioritizing high-risk cases amid government restructuring and budget cuts. Straight Arrow News The death toll has risen in a multistate listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplement shakes, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The increase in deaths from the outbreak comes nearly three months after Lyons Magnus, a food service industry provider headquartered in Fresno, California, recalled 4-ounce cartons of Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes for possible risk of listeria contamination. The products were produced by Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lyons Magnus distributed the products, under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brand names, throughout the U.S., primarily to long-term care facilities. The products were not sold at retail stores and none of the shakes should be available on the market, the FDA said. The FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 38 people who were sickened by listeria poisoning and 12 people who died across 21 states, the agencies said in February 2025. Of the 38 people sickened, 37 were hospitalized. On Friday, May 16, The CDC and FDA increased the number of deaths to 14 and the number of those sickened to 42 (41 were hospitalized). The outbreak investigation has ended, the agencies said. USA TODAY Recall Database: Search vehicle, product and food recalls Listeria outbreak investigation began in 2018 The CDC began investigating an outbreak of illnesses among residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes in 2018 – with continued investigation of cases in 2021 and 2023 – but could not find enough evidence to identify a food culprit. When six new illnesses were reported in October 2024, the CDC reopened the investigation. In February 2025, the frozen shakes were identified as a possible cause, and the CDC took samples from Prairie Farms, which were found to contain the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Which states had listeria cases linked to frozen shakes? These are the 21 states the FDA and CDC reported having known listeria outbreaks related to this recall: Alabama California Colorado Connecticut Florida Illinois Indiana Maryland Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nevada New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas Washington West Virginia What is listeriosis or listeria poisoning? Listeriosis, or listeria poisoning, is a foodborne bacterial infection most commonly caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. About 1,600 people get sick and 260 die each year from listeriosis, according to the CDC. Most people can be infected with listeria and not become seriously ill. But infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Listeriosis can also lead to cause death in people over the age of 65 or those with weakened immune systems. What are the symptoms of listeria poisoning? Signs and symptoms of listeriosis can appear as soon as hours after eating contaminated food and as long as weeks later, the USDA says. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell their health care provider. Among the symptoms: Fever Fatigue Muscle aches Headache Stiff neck Confusion Loss of balance Convulsions Diarrhea Other gastrointestinal symptoms Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@ What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
