A four-state listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat meat products produced by Yu Shang Food, Inc. in South Carolina has resulted in the death of an infant and sickness in 10 adults. The outbreak has affected individuals in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and California, all of Asian heritage. The infant who died was a twin, along with their sibling and pregnant mother becoming sick, but their death could not be linked to listeria. Investigators found Listeria monocytogenes on meat products during a routine USDA inspection of the Yu Shang Food plant, leading to a recall of nearly two dozen varieties of prepared meats. The recall includes products such as Braised Pork Belly In Brown Sauce and Seasoned Chicken Quarter Leg, sold by retailers like 99 Ranch Market. Exposure to listeria can cause severe illness, especially in older adults, those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Listeriosis can present symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headache, and diarrhea, and can lead to life-threatening complications. Those with the recalled products are advised to discard them and clean their freezers and refrigerators. The CDC urges caution in handling ready-to-eat meat products to prevent the spread of listeria infections, the third-ranked cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the US.
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Baby succumbs, 10 fall ill in listeria outbreak linked to prepackaged meat.
