Nursing Home Shake Recall: Fatal Listeria Outbreak Affects 21 States

February 22, 2025 TruthUSA

The FDA has issued a recall for frozen shakes that are associated with a severe listeria outbreak, which has caused 11 deaths and affected numerous individuals across 21 states.

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared a recall of frozen shake cartons distributed to nursing homes and long-term care facilities due to their connection to a listeria outbreak that has led to a minimum of 11 fatalities.

The outbreak has been linked to Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial supplemental shakes, as confirmed by the FDA in a statement issued on February 21 here. To date, 38 individuals across 21 states have reported illness, resulting in 37 hospitalizations and 11 deaths.

As per the available information, 34 of the 38 cases involved individuals residing in long-term care facilities or those who were hospitalized prior to the onset of symptoms. Records from these facilities suggest that nutritional shakes are routinely provided to residents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that this outbreak traces back to 2018 and persists, with 20 new cases documented in 2024 and 2025.

In light of these listeria infections, the FDA initiated a voluntary recall for specific Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes while persisting in its investigation of the outbreak.

Listeria infections are especially hazardous, posing significant and often fatal risks to young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Pregnant women who contract listeria may face the possibility of miscarriage or stillbirth. In healthy individuals, listeria can trigger symptoms such as fever, nausea, diarrhea, severe headaches, stiffness, and abdominal pain.

In recent months, several recalls related to listeria have been issued, including over 2 million cases of donuts, eclairs, and other food products, two cheddar cheese items, and more than 207,500 pounds of Board’s Head meat products.

Additionally, a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that federal agencies, such as the CDC, FDA, and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), have not achieved their foodborne illness reduction goals.

For example, the FDA’s target to lower domestic, lab-confirmed salmonella infections to 14 cases per 100,000 people was not met. The FSIS aimed to reduce the proportion of salmonella-positive poultry samples by 4 percent, but the rate instead increased by 22 percent. Both organizations acknowledged difficulties in achieving their goals and pledged to enhance their efforts.

A Gallup survey conducted in September 2024 indicated a decline in public trust regarding food safety oversight. The survey revealed that only 57 percent of respondents trust federal agencies to ensure food safety, an 11-point decrease since 2019.

Moreover, 72 percent of Americans expressed confidence in the safety of food from grocery stores, a drop from 81 percent five years prior.

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