A multi-state outbreak of Listeria infections resulting from supplement shakes distributed to long-term care facilities prompted a CDC food safety alert last week.

Thirty-eight people from 21 states have been infected with this outbreak strain of Listeria.

Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized, and 12 people have died.

The ages of those affected range from 43 to 101 years, with older adults over the age of 65 years most affected.

Cases date back to 2018, but over half of the people affected by this outbreak got sick in 2024 or 2025.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems, the CDC explained. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

It is common for Listeria outbreaks to last several years because it is an incredibly hardy germ that can survive on surfaces for long periods, according to the consumer safety agency.

The CDC has investigated this strain several times but never had enough information to identify a food source, beyond something served in long-term care facilities.

Environmental testing and whole genome sequencing helped solve the outbreak this year, the agency reported.

Frozen supplemental shakes, manufactured by Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. (“Prairie Farms”) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, under brands Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial have been recalled.

Questions about the recall should be directed to FDA.

These shakes were distributed nationwide to institutional settings like long-term care facilities and given most commonly to those on medically necessary soft diets.

The products are not available to the general public and are only available to institutional settings like long-term care facilities.