Frugals Tacoma Milkshakes Linked to Listeria Outbreak: Customers Warned Not to Eat
Frugals Tacoma Milkshakes Linked to Listeria Outbreak: Customers Warned Not to Eat
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) discovered a potentially lethal listeria bacteria in the milkshake-making machinery at Tacoma’s Frugal in Olympia.
According to official DOH data, the bacterial exposure killed three persons and hospitalised six others.
The DOH inspectors also determined that the machinery used to make the milkshakes were not sufficiently cleaned, which may have contributed to the outbreak of food-borne listeriosis.
“The Tacoma Frugals stopped using its ice cream machines on August 8,” the DOH added, “but listeria can affect people up to 70 days later.”
“Most people who eat listeria-contaminated food will not get seriously ill,” the DOH said in a press release on Friday, adding that “Listeria can be treated with antibiotics.” “People who are pregnant, 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems should call their health care provider if they ate a Frugals’ Tacoma milkshake between 29 May and 7 August 2023 and have Listeria symptoms,” the DOH said.
Using genetic fingerprinting of the germs in the shakes, a similar type of listeria that hospitalised six people was found. All six suffered from ailments that made their immune systems “less capable.”
According to the DOH, three of the six died, and two of the hospitalised people said they had drunk the milkshakes before becoming ill.
Symptoms of listeria
Fever, muscle aches, and exhaustion are frequent listeria symptoms in non-pregnant women. They may also develop seizures, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or headaches.
Pregnant women, on the other hand, commonly experience exhaustion, muscle aches, and fever. Listeria can also cause miscarriage or premature birth, as well as acute sickness or newborn death.
“Today, we were deeply saddened to learn the Washington State Department of Health is reporting six people were hospitalized with foodborne listeriosis and three people later died. We are heartbroken and deeply regret any harm our actions could have caused”, Frugals said in a statement.
“Frugals has and will continue to fully cooperate with and support this ongoing investigation. We have followed all PCHD’s recommendations, including immediately halting all milkshake sales at our Tacoma location and sending the milkshake equipment to an independent facility for thorough cleaning, sanitization, and re-testing”, the restaurant added.
