Outbreak Background
Federal health officials are investigating a multistate Listeria outbreak connected to frozen supplemental shakes that has resulted in 38 infections, 37 hospitalizations, and 11 deaths. The outbreak, traced to Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands, primarily affects residents in long-term care facilities and hospitals.
The FDA and CDC, working with state and local partners, identified the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes through environmental sampling. While cases date back to 2018, twenty new infections have been reported across 2024 and 2025. The outbreak spans 21 states, with 89% of cases occurring in individuals who lived in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized before becoming ill.
The FDA continues to investigate the outbreak and will provide updates as new information becomes available.
Product Details
Lyons Readycare-brand and Sysco Imperial-brand frozen supplemental shakes that are still within their shelf life.
No additional product information has been made available at this time.
Timeline
The investigation began when the FDA received notification of the outbreak on November 25, 2024.
The last specimen was collected on January 23, 2025.
Location of Affected Individuals
- Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.
- The number of affected individuals per state has not yet been released.
Demographics
No demographic data for those infected is available yet.
Laboratory and Traceback Findings
Traceback efforts revealed that affected facilities had received frozen supplemental shakes from either Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Imperial brands. Both companies have initiated voluntary recalls of their frozen supplemental shakes that are within their shelf-life dates.
Previous investigations had been unable to identify the source of the outbreak, but recent traceback efforts focused on invoice records from affected facilities dating from 2024 to present. These records confirmed the presence of either Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Imperial frozen supplemental shakes at each location that provided documentation.
Consumer and Commercial Action
Healthcare facilities and distributors are instructed to cease serving or selling these products immediately. Thorough cleaning and sanitization of any surfaces or containers that contact the products is crucial, as Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and easily spread to other foods and surfaces. The FDA has provided specific guidelines for safe handling and cleaning to reduce cross-contamination risks.
Institutional settings using these supplemental shakes should check their freezers and remove any affected products.
Health Risks
Listeria infection symptoms typically develop within two weeks of consuming contaminated food but can appear as soon as the same day or as late as 10 weeks afterward. Initial symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases can progress to headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
The infection poses particular risks to pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and individuals with weakened immune systems. While pregnant women typically experience mild symptoms like fever and fatigue, listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns. Other individuals can become infected but rarely develop serious illness.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of listeriosis should contact their healthcare provider immediately for evaluation and care. Healthcare providers are advised to report suspected cases to their local health departments to assist in tracking the outbreak’s spread.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading Listeria lawyer said, “Last year saw a number of tragic deaths connected to multiple Listeria outbreaks, with our representing a number of the families. Unfortunately, Listeria is especially dangerous to adults over 65 who are likely to reside in long-term care facilities. I advise anyone who is displaying symptoms of Listeria infection to seek medical help immediately.”
