Listeria Outbreak Tied To Yu Shang Food Claims Infant’s Life, Sickens 10

An infant in California has died, and 10 others have fallen ill due to a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, Inc., federal health officials confirmed on Friday.

The outbreak, tied to items like chicken feet, duck neck, beef shank, and pork hock, has led to the recall of over 72,000 pounds of products by Yu Shang Food, based in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

States Affected and Severity of Illness

Cases have been reported across four states, with nine hospitalizations so far. A pregnant California woman sickened by the outbreak tragically lost her twins, though only one infant was officially included in the case count.

What Consumers Need to Know

Despite the recall initiated on November 9, some contaminated products may still be in households. The CDC advises consumers to:

• Discard or return recalled items immediately.
• Clean and sanitize refrigerators, containers, and surfaces that came into contact with the products.

What Is Listeria Poisoning?

Listeria poisoning occurs from consuming foods contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild, such as:

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and diarrhea

To severe:

• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Confusion
• Loss of balance and convulsions

High-risk groups include:

• Pregnant women
• Infants
• People aged 65+
• Those with weakened immune systems

Symptoms may appear quickly or take up to three months after exposure.

A Broader Concern

This outbreak follows a similar listeria incident earlier this year involving Boar’s Head deli meats, which killed 10 people and sickened dozens.

Food safety experts stress the importance of proper handling and vigilance to prevent such tragedies in the future.