Death toll increases in listeria outbreak tied to supplemental shakes
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA/Gray News) - At least one more death has been reported in connection to a listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplemental shakes.
Twelve deaths have been reported in the outbreak involving Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes, according to the U.S. Food and Drug istration.
The recalled shakes were distributed to hospitals and long-term care facilities nationwide and were not available for retail sale.
As of Feb. 24, at least 38 people in 21 states have reported listeria infections connected to the shakes. Thirty-seven of the infections required hospitalizations and 12 resulted in death.
The impacted shakes were manufactured at a Prairie Farms facility in Fort Payne, Indiana.
The FDA said crews conducted an onsite inspection at the Fort Wayne facility, with three swabs testing positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Analysis of the swabs showed the bacteria found in those samples is closely related to the strain of listeria that is causing illnesses in the outbreak, the FDA reported.
A Prairie Farms spokesperson said the manufacturer is cooperating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FDA’s investigation. They reported production of the recalled shakes has stopped.
“At Prairie Farms, the safety and well-being of our consumers is of the utmost importance,” the spokesperson said in the statement. “I am deeply concerned by the reports of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to nutritional shakes, and my heart goes out to those affected.”
A full list of recalled products can be found on the FDA’s website. It includes ReadyCare and Imperial Frozen Vanilla, Frozen Chocolate, and Frozen Strawberry Shakes as well as the NSA and Plus versions of the product, among others.
The FDA advises anyone who has a recalled product should not consume it, those with questions are asked to visit the Lyons Magnus website or the company at [email protected].
The FDA investigation is ongoing.
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