There have been too many Deadly Listeria Outbreaks

And, there is a new one brewing that has not yet been identified.

As of February 21, 2025, 38 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 21 states. The 21 States with Cases are: 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.

Sick people’s samples were collected on dates ranging from August 17, 2018, to January 23, 2025. Of 38 people with information available, 37 have been hospitalized. Twelve deaths have been reported from California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Most people in this outbreak reported living in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that supplement shakes manufactured by Prairie Farms are contaminated with Listeria and are making people sick.

CDC investigated this outbreak in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Epidemiologic evidence in previous investigations identified that sick people were residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes and the likely source was a food served in those types of institutions, but there was not enough information to identify a specific food. CDC reopened the investigation in October 2024 after six new illnesses were reported. In February 2025 after traceback identified a product of interest, the outbreak strain was found in environmental samples from Prairie Farms.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the month before they got sick. Of 38 people with information, 34 (89%) reported living in long-term care facilities or were hospitalized before becoming sick. Eight people reported mechanical soft diets, like supplement shakes. Records reviewed from facilities indicated supplement shakes were available to residents. 

Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.

FDA traced food records from long-term care facilities. These records showed that supplement shakes made by Prairie Farms were a common food served to people. On February 4, 2025, FDA collected environmental samples at Prairie Farms for testing. On February 19, 2025, WGS showed that the Listeria in the environment are closely related to bacteria from sick people.

On February 22, 2025, Lyons Magnus LLC recalled supplement shakes. CDC is advising people not to eat, sell, or serve recalled products.

Since the last update on November 22, 2024, eight new illnesses were reported from five states. These sick people were identified after food and environmental sampling found a second strain of Listeria. As of December 5, 2024, 19 people from eight states have been infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria.

Sick people’s samples were collected from October 24, 2021, to October 28, 2024.

                  •               Of 19 people with information available, 17 (89%) have been hospitalized.

                  •               Seven illnesses are related to pregnancy.

                  •               One person who was pregnant was sick and recovered.

                  •               Two unrelated infants were also sick and recovered.

                  •               In California, a mother and her twins were sick and both infants died. Listeria was found in a sample from the mother and from one of the twin infants, but it could not be found in a sample from the other infant. Because of this, only the mother and one twin are included as confirmed cases in this outbreak.

                  •               In Tennessee, a mother and her infant were sick and her infant died.

The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

On October 21, 2024, FSIS conducted routine testing and follow-up activities of finished product by Yu Shang Food, Inc. Testing confirmed that the product was contaminated with Listeria. WGS showed that the Listeria in the pork snout product is closely related to bacteria from sick people. This means that people likely got sick from eating foods produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc.

In response to the investigation, FSIS collected additional samples of product produced at Yu Shang Foods, Inc. and from the production environment. The Listeria found in those samples was related by WGS to the bacteria from eight other sick people in the PulseNet database and is different from the strain found in the pork snout sample and the 11 illnesses already included in the outbreak. These illnesses were combined into one investigation.

On November 9, 2024, Yu Shang Food, Inc recalled ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. On November 21, 2024, Yu Shang Food, Inc expanded their recall. CDC is advising people not to eat, sell, or serve recalled products.

According to the CDC, since the last update on August 28, two more illnesses and one more death have been reported. As of September 23, a total of 61 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 19 states – Arizona 1, Florida 3, Georgia 2, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Louisiana 1, Massachusetts 3, Maryland 8, Minnesota 1, Missouri 3, North Carolina 1, New Jersey 6, New Mexico 1, New York 17, Pennsylvania 2, South Carolina 2, Tennessee 1, Virginia 4, and Wisconsin 1.

Sick people’s samples were collected from May 29, 2024 to August 28, 2024. Of 59 people with information available, all have been hospitalized. One person got sick during their pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovering. Ten deaths have been reported, including one in Illinois, one in New Jersey, one in New York, one in Virginia, one in Florida, one in Tennessee, one in New Mexico, two in South Carolina, and as of this update, one additional death in New York.

The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

The Maryland Department of Health and Baltimore City Health Department collected an unopened Boar’s Head liverwurst product from a retail store and identified Listeria monocytogenes. Additionally, the New York State Food Laboratory identified Listeria monocytogenes from a previously collected sample of unopened Boar’s Head liverwurst products collected by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Food Safety and Inspection from retail stores. WGS determined both to be the same strain as the strain making people sick in this outbreak. USDA-FSIS conducted traceback of deli meats purchased by sick people in this outbreak to identify producers of interest for further investigation.

CDC advises people to not eat recalled deli meat products. CDC also advises people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system to avoid eating deli meats or to heat them before consuming.

For delis that received recalled meats:

• Thoroughly clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces.
• Throw away any open meats and cheeses in the deli.
• USDA-FSIS is advising delis to not use any opened deli products because recalled products can cross-contaminate other deli meats and cheeses.

Boar’s Head Ready-to-Eat Liverwurst Products

• Produced between June 11, 2024 and July 17, 2024, and have a 44-day shelf-life
• “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst made in Virginia”
• 3.5-pound loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis
• Sell by dates range from July 25, 2024, to August 30, 2024

Other Boar’s Head Deli Meat Products 

Boar’s Head also recalled all deli products, including prepackaged deli products, in shelf life from this establishment. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.

See the recall notice for more details about all recalled products.

And, there is a new one coming.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.

Source: https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/there-have-been-too-many-deadly-listeria-outbreaks/