Infant succumbs, 10 others fall ill in listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat

A listeria outbreak connected to ready-to-eat meat products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. in South Carolina has resulted in the death of an infant and the illness of 10 adults across four states. The outbreak affected individuals of Asian heritage, with cases reported in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and California. The infant who died was a twin, while another infant also became ill but recovered. The USDA discovered Listeria monocytogenes on products from the Yu Shang Food plant during an inspection, leading to a recall of nearly two dozen varieties of meat products. The recall covers products such as “Braised Pork Belly In Brown Sauce”, “Seasoned Chicken Quarter Leg”, and “Braised Beef Shank”. The affected products carry USDA inspection hallmarks of “P-46684” or “EST. M46684”. Consumers were advised to discard the recalled products and thoroughly clean their freezers and refrigerators. Exposure to listeria can cause severe illness in vulnerable populations such as older adults, those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Listeriosis symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, and diarrhea, and can be life-threatening. The CDC highlighted the importance of food safety measures to prevent listeria infections, which are a significant cause of foodborne illness-related deaths in the United States.

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