Deadly Listeria Outbreak Reported In CT, 20 Other States

What to Know Summary:

• 38 people sickened, 11 dead due to a listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplemental shakes.
• Cases reported in 21 states, including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, California, and Michigan.
• Shakes sold primarily to long-term care facilities and not available for retail purchase.
• Lyons Magnus LLC has voluntarily recalled the affected products.

Full Story:

A listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplemental shakes has affected 21 states, causing 38 illnesses and 11 deaths, according to the FDA.

Shakes Sold Under Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial

The affected shakes were distributed under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands and were primarily sold to long-term care facilities and institutional settings, not directly to consumers.

States with Reported Cases:

As of February 21, cases have been reported in:

• 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.

Timeline and Investigation

• November 2023: FDA officials were alerted to a listeria outbreak in long-term care facilities.
• 2024-2025: 20 new cases reported, with ongoing infections traced back to 2018.
• Hospitalization Rate: 37 out of 38 affected individuals required hospitalization.
• High Risk: 34 individuals lived in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized before becoming sick.

Company Response & Recall

Lyons Magnus LLC has issued a voluntary recall of 4 oz. Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes due to potential listeria contamination.

"The recalled products were distributed primarily to long-term care facilities and were not available for retail sale," the company stated.

A full list of recalled products can be found here.