Recall of ready-to-eat meat and poultry due to listeria; 11 sickened, 1 dead
A nationwide recall has been initiated for ready-to-eat meat and poultry products linked to at least one fatality, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announced on Friday.
Yu Shang Food, Inc began by recalling over 4,500 pounds of these products due to concerns of potential listeria contamination. This issue was flagged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) during routine checks on October 21.
Further inspections led Yu Shang Food, based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to expand the recall from 4,589 to a total of 72,240 pounds of products, according to FSIS reports.
As of Friday, the CDC reported 11 confirmed listeria infections across four states; nine individuals have been hospitalized and one person has died.
Here’s what we know.
Case Distribution Map
California reported the highest number of cases, totaling seven. Illinois has two confirmed cases, while both New York and New Jersey have each reported one.
Recalled Product Information
The affected products were manufactured before October 28, 2024, and distributed to stores across the country and online. They all carry the establishment numbers “P-46684” or “EST. M46684” as seen within the USDA inspection mark.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
Listeriosis, or listeria poisoning, is a foodborne illness that is primarily caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This infection is serious and can be fatal, particularly for older adults, individuals with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women.
According to the USDA, symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
- Diarrhea
- Other stomach issues
- Complications during pregnancy such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery, and severe infections in newborns
- Death
Individuals at higher risk who show flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated products should seek medical help and inform their healthcare provider about the consumption of these products, the USDA advises.
