Listeria bacteria found in milkshakes leaves three dead and an additional 3 people injured. After investigators from the Washington State Department of Health investigated, they found the bacteria known as listeria was in all milkshake flavors. It was from these milkshakes that three people got listeria and later passed. Health authorities later stated that both the milkshakes and ice cream had been the cause of the listeria outbreak. Due to this, the health inspectors collected samples of the milkshakes for testing. A week after collecting the samples they concluded from genetic fingerprinting that it was the same strain of listeria that led to the outbreak. Frugals posted a statement on their Instagram page stating they had been contacted by the Pierce County Health Department regarding an investigation of a possible listeria outbreak at their Tacoma Frugals Location. Although the health department stated that “No other Frugals restaurants are believed to be affected.” Frugals claimed that they will be undergoing enhanced cleaning procedures across all product categories and at all store locations. They also stated to continue to work with the Pierce County Health Department and are “…committed to making any changes deemed necessary to maintain our high standard of operations and prevent this from happening again.” Although the majority of the people who consume food contaminated with listeria do not get that sick; the six people who were hospitalized all had conditions that made their immune systems weak, which made it harder for their bodies to defend themselves from the infection. The main reason for the milkshakes being contaminated was due to the lack of proper maintenance and cleaning. Even though Frugals Tacoma stopped using their ice cream on August eighth machines the health department stated that listeria can affect people even after seventy days. Health authorities have said that this isn’t the first time milkshakes and ice cream have caused a listeria outbreak.
