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In February 2025, a listeria outbreak in the United States was linked to frozen shakes from Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., sold under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands, mainly in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
As of Feb. 24, 2025, the outbreak has resulted in 38 reported infections across 21 states, leading to 37 hospitalizations and 12 deaths.
Listeriosis is a severe infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It poses severe health risks to elders, pregnant women, and individuals with low immunity.
The recent outbreak was linked to frozen supplemental shakes distributed to healthcare institutions across 21 states.
The contamination was traced back to a Fort Wayne, Indiana, manufacturing facility, where FDA inspections revealed positive samples of Listeria monocytogenes. The timeline of the outbreak is particularly concerning, as cases have been reported since 2018, indicating a prolonged period during which contaminated products were in circulation.
In response to the outbreak, Lyons Magnus LLC initiated a voluntary recall of the affected 4-ounce frozen supplemental shakes, aiming to remove potentially contaminated products from healthcare facilities to prevent further infections.
Both Lyons Magnus and Sysco have ceased sourcing from the implicated Prairie Farms facility, ensuring that additional contaminated products do not enter the supply chain. The FDA conducted an on-site investigation at the Fort Wayne facility, identifying three positive Listeria samples, prompting comprehensive cleaning and sanitation protocols to eradicate the contamination source.
Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium usually found in soil, water, and contaminated food. Unlike many other bacteria, Listeria can thrive in cold environments, including refrigeration temperatures, making it particularly challenging to control in food storage settings.
Consumption of contaminated food can lead to listeriosis, a serious infection with symptoms ranging from mild flu-like signs to severe complications such as septicemia and meningitis. The incubation period for listeriosis ranges from a few weeks to 90 days, making it challenging to identify the contamination source.
Certain groups are at the highest risk of severe listeriosis. Due to their weakened immune systems, infections are more likely to occur in elderly individuals. In this outbreak, many affected individuals were residents of long-term care facilities, highlighting the vulnerability of seniors.
Immunocompromised persons, including individuals undergoing cancer treatment, organ transplantation, and those with chronic illnesses, also face a higher risk of infection. Pregnant women are about 10 times more likely to get infected by listeriosis. This can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
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