A variety of milkshakes has been recalled after being linked to 12 deaths and many serious illnesses. This issue has notably affected residents in long-term care facilities and patients in hospitals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed these details on Monday.
The food service company, Lyons Magnus, announced on Saturday that it was voluntarily pulling all 4-ounce packs of Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes off the market. This decision was made after a recall notice from the manufacturer, Prairie Farms, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
As of Monday, there have been 38 reported illnesses across 21 states. Out of these cases, 37 individuals were hospitalized, and 12 people died. However, the FDA did not specify when these deaths occurred, and investigators have traced this outbreak back seven years.
Among the affected individuals, 34 were either residents of long-term care facilities or had recently been hospitalized before their illness began. The FDA confirmed that these milkshakes were made available to residents and patients in these facilities.
The FDA first received reports about an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to these milkshakes on November 25 of last year. Most of those who fell ill were found to live in long-term care facilities prior to becoming sick.
Lyons Magnus responded quickly as soon as they became aware of the problem. The company took steps to stop purchasing products from the affected Prairie Farms facility and informed customers about the situation. They also made sure that the affected products were removed from stores nationwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that this outbreak dates back to 2018. However, the exact details of when, where, or how the infections started remain unclear.
Listeriosis, the illness caused by listeria bacteria, typically shows symptoms about two weeks after consuming contaminated food, but it can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms to appear. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and nausea. In severe cases, individuals may experience confusion, stiff neck, and convulsions. Certain groups are at higher risk, including pregnant women, people over the age of 65, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
This incident follows a similar case last year, where an infant died and 10 adults became sick due to a listeria outbreak that was tied to ready-to-eat meat products across four states. The recent recall highlights the ongoing risks associated with foodborne illnesses, especially for vulnerable populations, and emphasizes the importance of rigorous food safety practices to prevent future outbreaks.