Nursing Home Shake Recall: Deadly Listeria Outbreak Spans 21 States

The FDA has recalled frozen shakes linked to a deadly listeria outbreak that has killed 11 and sickened dozens across 21 states.

Images of products linked to a multistate listeria outbreak. FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Friday that frozen shake cartons supplied to nursing homes and long-term care facilities are being recalled following their link to a listeria outbreak that has resulted in at least 11 deaths.

The outbreak is tied to Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial supplemental shakes, the FDA confirmed in a Feb. 21 statement. So far, 38 people across 21 states have fallen ill, with 37 hospitalizations and 11 fatalities.

According to available data, 34 out of 38 affected individuals were either living in long-term care facilities or had been hospitalized before developing symptoms. Facility records indicate that nutritional shakes are commonly provided to residents.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the outbreak dates back to 2018 but remains ongoing, with 20 new cases recorded in 2024 and 2025.

In response to the listeria infections, the FDA announced a voluntary recall of certain Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes while continuing its ongoing investigation into the outbreak.

Listeria infections can be particularly dangerous, posing serious and sometimes fatal risks to young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women infected with listeria face risks of miscarriage and stillbirth. In otherwise healthy individuals, listeria can cause fever, nausea, diarrhea, severe headaches, stiffness, and abdominal pain.

Several listeria-related recalls have been issued in recent months. This includes the recall of more than 2 million cases of donuts, eclairs, and other food items; two cheddar cheese products; and more than 207,500 pounds of Board’s Head meat products.

Meanwhile, a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that federal agencies, including the CDC, FDA, and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), have failed to meet foodborne illness reduction targets.

For instance, the FDA set a goal to reduce domestically acquired, lab-confirmed salmonella infections to 14 cases per 100,000 people but failed to meet the target. The FSIS aimed to cut the percentage of salmonella-positive poultry samples by 4 percent, but instead, the rate increased by 22 percent. Both agencies cited challenges in meeting the targets and vowed improvement.

Americans’ trust in food safety oversight is decreasing, according to a September 2024 Gallup survey that found confidence in government assurances at a record low.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they trust federal agencies to keep food safe—an 11-point drop from 2019.

As for grocery stores, 72 percent of Americans expressed confidence in store-bought food safety, down from 81 percent five years ago.