The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert regarding a deadly outbreak of listeria illnesses linked to contaminated frozen supplemental shakes. The outbreak has resulted in 11 deaths and 37 hospitalizations. The affected products, Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial frozen supplemental shakes, are primarily sold to hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The FDA was first alerted in November about the potential connection between the shakes and illnesses among nursing home residents. Some cases in this outbreak may date back to 2018, with 20 confirmed cases linked to the shakes occurring in 2024 and 2025. Environmental samples collected by the FDA identified the outbreak strain of listeria in the drinks.
The outbreak has impacted individuals across 20 states. According to Sysco, Lyons supplied the shakes from a facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and distributed them nationwide. Sysco has since halted the distribution of the affected products and informed customers about the recall.
“Sysco expresses our most sincere condolences to those affected by this outbreak and their families. Food safety is and will continue to be our top priority, and our focus will always be on improving programs that protect our customers and our communities from foodborne illnesses,” the company stated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that listeria symptoms typically appear 1 to 4 weeks after consuming contaminated food but can manifest as early as the same day or up to 70 days later. Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever, and muscle aches. Pregnant individuals face heightened risks, including miscarriage, premature delivery, and life-threatening infections in newborns.
— news from Scripps News