The Washington State Department of Health (DOH)reported that Listeria bacteria was found in all milkshake flavors sold at Frugals restaurant at 10727 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, WA, is associated with an outbreak linked to six hospitalizations and three deaths. Investigators found Listeria in the ice cream machines, which were improperly cleaned. No other Frugals restaurants are believed to be affected. The restaurant stopped using its ice cream machines on Aug. 8, but Listeria can sicken people up to 70 days later. Genetic fingerprinting of the Listeria in the milkshakes shows it’s the same strain that hospitalized six people were infected between Feb. 27 and July 22 (five people in Pierce County and one in Thurston County). All six people had conditions that made their immune systems less able to fight disease. Three of the six people hospitalized died. Two people who were hospitalized, but did not die, said they ate Frugals’ Tacoma milkshakes before getting sick. @ https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/listeria-bacteria-found-milkshakes-sold-frugals-restaurant-tacoma#:~:text=OLYMPIA%20%E2%80%93%20Listeria%20bacteria%20found%20in,which%20were%20not%20cleaned%20correctly.
