Frozen shakes sold in nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions have been revoked after the drinks were linked to a chronic fatal Listeria epidemic, the food and medicine service said on Friday.
Since 2018, at least 11 people have died of the epidemic and dozens have been hospitalized, the FDA said, but previous research has not been able to find a source of bacteria.
In 37 of the 38 known cases, patients were hospitalized. 34 of those infected were in long -term care facilities or were hospitalized before they got sick with Listeria.
The cases have been reported in 21 states, including California, Florida and New York. Since January 2024, there have been 20 cases and the epidemic continues, the FDA said.
The FDA said on Friday that the outburst had been linked to Lyons Readycare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Shakes, which are made to complete meals. They come in four -ounce cartons and flavors such as vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.
The FDA said it had been notified of a Listeria outburst on November 25 and had begun research that found a link to frozen shakes after a review of the files in facilities where people who were arrested in infection lived.
Disease Control and Prevention Centers work with the FDA to explore the epidemic.
Lyons Magnus, the food services company that distributes the drinks, said on Saturday in a press release that it reminds of shakes because they could be infected by bacteria, Listeria Monocytogenes.
The company said the drinks were mostly sold in long -term care facilities and were not available for retail.
Most people who get sick by Listeria infected foods have symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle aches for a few days or no symptoms.
Some groups, including people who are 65 years of age or older, who are pregnant or weakened by the immune system, are at greater risk of having severe infection. Symptoms can occur on the same day that a person eats infected food or up to 10 weeks later, according to the FDA
The drinks were made by Prairie Farms Dairy in a facility on Fort Wayne, Ind., Lyons Magnus said. The Farms Prairie did not respond immediately to comment request on Sunday.
Sysco, a food distribution company, said in a press release on Friday that it had reminded the shakes and stopped buying other products provided by Lyons Magnus from the installation to Fort Wayne.
“Sysco expresses our most sincere condolences with those affected by this epidemic and their families,” the company said in a statement.
