The death of three individuals has been linked to contaminated milkshakes in Washington, according to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
Officials determined Listeria bacteria existed in all milkshake flavors at Frugals restaurant in Tacoma, Washington, the Aug. 18 press release reads. Ice cream machines at the restaurant developed the bacteria strain because they had not been cleaned properly.
LISTERIA WARNING ISSUED: Three people have died and three others have been hospitalized after drinking milkshakes contaminated with Listeria bacteria from a restaurant in Tacoma, Washington. https://t.co/9a27ew7yxe
— Local 3 News (@Local3News) August 20, 2023
Employees stopped using all of the ice cream machines at the Frugals location as a precautionary measure Aug 8. However, Listeria can cause illness “up to 70 days later,” according to the press release. Fruglas in Tacoma was the only restaurant location known to be affected by the outbreak. (RELATED: Woman Goes On Vacation And Comes Back With Flesh-Eating Infection, Needs 33 Surgeries)
Six people were hospitalized between Feb. 27 and July 22, 2023, according to the press release. All patients had preexisting conditions rendering their immune system less capable of combatting disease. The patients lived in Pierce County and Thurston County. Genetic fingerprinting revealed the Listeria strain from the contaminated milkshakes matched the bacteria that led to the six patients being hospitalized, according to the press release.
Three of the hospitalized patients died and three survived, according to the DOH. Two of the three survivors said they consumed a milkshake at Frugals in Tacoma before becoming ill.
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause serious infection in some cases, according to the state DOH. Listeriosis is most commonly contracted by consuming food that’s contaminated with Listeria. It can cause “a mild, flu-like illness or a serious infection of the bloodstream or the lining covering the brain and spinal cord,” according to the DOH. There are roughly 10-25 known cases of listeriosis recorded in the state of Washington annually.
The bacteria can affect any person and most who are contaminated will only suffer mild illness, according to the press release. Pregnant women, elderly adults, newborn babies and immunocompromised people are at higher risk, according to the DOH.