United States: The United States Food and Drug Administration documented that 38 people suffered illnesses, and 12 patients lost their lives from Listeria infection after ingesting frozen shake products discovered in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
More about the news
The hospital facilities purchased frozen shakes from Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial, yet these brands are not distributed to retail stores.
The facilities distribute four-ounce cartons of their three shake flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, in their product shipments.
The FDA-mandated medical facilities remove Lyons ReadyCare along with Sysco Imperial brand shakes from all service areas at once.
The facility operated by Prairie Farms in Fort Wayne, Indiana, became the point of origin for the outbreak, which led to the production of affected shakes, the US News reported,
What have the officials announced?
The FDA announced through their report on February 24 that the tested samples revealed the presence of the pathogen listeria.
The product recalls issued by Lyons Magnus along with Sysco included Prairie Farms facility products which received sales suspension.
According to the company, “Sysco expresses our most sincere condolences with those affected by this outbreak and their families,” US News reported.
Listeria outbreak extent
Listeria presents a severe threat to pregnant women and adults of older age groups, as well as those with weak immune systems, because it frequently infects multiple food items, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the CDC, the outbreak spread throughout 21 states, yet 37 out of the 38 identified cases needed hospitalization.
The Boar’s Head deli meat production caused a deadly listeria outbreak that infected 59 individuals while killing 10 people last year.
Furthermore, “Food safety is and will continue to be our top priority, and our focus will always be on improving these programs that protect our customers and our communities from foodborne illnesses,” Sysco’s recall notice added.