Outbreak of listeria linked to ready-to-eat meat results in infant death and sickness for 10 others

An infant has died and 10 adults have fallen ill in a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. in South Carolina. Those affected included individuals in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and California, all of Asian heritage. Among those sickened were twins, one of whom died from listeria. The mother of the twins also fell ill but recovered, along with another unrelated infant. Seven out of eight people who got sick had shopped at markets where Yu Shang Food products are sold. The contaminated products were discovered during a routine inspection of the Yu Shang Food plant by USDA inspectors, leading to a recall in November. The CDC found a genetic footprint for listeria in the outbreak, indicating that all cases were linked to the same food. The recall includes various prepared meat products sold by retailers such as 99 Ranch Market. Anyone with the recalled products was advised to discard them and clean their freezers and refrigerators. Listeria infection can be particularly dangerous for older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, confusion, and diarrhea. Listeriosis is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illnesses in the United States.

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