TACOMA, WASHINGTON: The deaths of three people in Washington are being blamed on ice cream machines that were not properly cleaned by staff.

Listeria bacteria was discovered in ice cream machines at a Frugals restaurant in Tacoma, Washington, which were used to make milkshakes served at the burger joint. Frugals is a family-owned burger franchise that is popular in the Northwest.

Frugals is a family-owned Burger franchise

The businesses are solely owned by Peter B Stewart and Sheila G Stewart. Both of them are essential to the decision-making process, ongoing unit expansion, and financing. Peter has extensive experience in operations, sales, and investments, while Sheila has more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant business. Eight restaurants are owned and run by the Stewart family.

In June 1988, the first location in Port Angeles, Washington, opened and became immediately well-liked. In September 1990, a second unit was added in Tacoma, Washington. Operations started in Auburn, Washington, in October 2000. In Kalispell, Montana, a second location was successfully opened a year later. Because each location is committed to simplicity, efficiency, quality, and service, it has developed a devoted following.

What is Listeria ?

Listeria is an infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

Most people who consume Listeria-contaminated food will not become seriously ill. However, it can cause confusion, seizures, miscarriage, and stillbirth in pregnant women in some cases.

Pregnant women, people over 65, and those with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable.

How did listeria infection spread at Frugals Tacoma?

Officials say that if you had a Frugals milkshake at Tacoma between May 29 and August 7, 2023, and have listeria symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider. Investigators discovered Listeria in the ice cream machines at 10727 Pacific Ave S in Tacoma, which had not been cleaned properly.

The restaurant's ice cream machines were turned off on August 8, but Listeria can cause illness up to 70 days later.

Officials used genetic testing of bacteria found in the milkshakes to confirm that the Listeria strain hospitalized six people between February 27 and July 22.

How many people were killed from Listeria infection?

All six cases had compromised immune systems, making them less capable of combating the disease. Three of them were killed, as reported by DailyMail.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Frugals said, "We are heartbroken and deeply regret any harm our actions could have caused."

It declared that it had stopped selling milkshakes at all of its locations, that other stores' machines would be checked for Listeria, and that the contaminated equipment would be cleaned up and tested again.

Where can Listeria be found?

Although Listeria can be found in various foods, it is typically found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, and ready-to-eat foods like prepackaged sandwiches.

Listeria is a common environmental pathogen that can be found in raw food, soil, and the excrement of numerous mammals, birds, and fish, as reported by WHO.

What are the symptoms of Listeria infection?

Mild diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms usually appear within 24 hours of consuming tainted food and last for one to three days.

However, if the infection spreads outside of the gut, it develops into an invasive illness with symptoms that appear two weeks after eating food that has been contaminated with listeria.

Antibiotics are used to treat the infection.

Every year, the CDC estimates that 1,600 Americans contract listeria and 260 of them die.

Nearly one in twenty non-pregnant individuals with invasive listeria die, and invasive illness during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening newborn infection.

Nearly one in twenty non-pregnant patients with invasive listeria dies.

How to prevent Listeria infection?

Listeria can be prevented by regularly washing your hands with soap and water, washing produce before eating it, storing ready-to-eat foods according to the manufacturer's instructions, and ensuring all hot food is piping hot all the way through, as reported by Mayoclinic.