Frozen Shakes Recalled After Listeria Outbreak Linked to 11 Deaths in Healthcare Facilities

The FDA and CDC trace a years-long outbreak of listeria to frozen supplemental shakes distributed to hospitals and nursing homes, with investigations ongoing.

The listeria outbreak has caused 11 deaths and 38 illnesses across 21 states, with most cases involving residents of long-term care facilities and hospitals.
The contaminated shakes, sold under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands, were distributed exclusively through foodservice channels to healthcare institutions.
The FDA's investigation uncovered that the outbreak dates back to 2018, with 20 cases reported in 2024 and 2025, highlighting delayed detection and response.
Listeria infections are particularly dangerous for older adults and immunocompromised individuals, with symptoms often mimicking other conditions and causing delayed treatment.
Healthcare providers have been instructed to immediately discard all affected products, and the FDA is working with manufacturers to prevent further contamination.